The Feifei could coexist peacefully with all demonic beasts and could also clear one's mind, which happened to counteract the Breath of the White Tiger.
Moreover, Feifei's elemental affinity was metal, which perfectly matched the White Tiger.
Mo Tiange asked curiously, "What a coincidence. Could it be that this White Tiger opportunity was prepared for you?"
Feifei raised its head proudly, only to be swatted down by Mo Tiange's palm: "So lazy, walk by yourself!"
Feifei let out a whimper, wanting to protest, but seeing that Mo Tiange ignored it and had already walked away, it could only obediently tuck its tail and follow them.
As she walked, Mo Tiange shook her head and said, "Jing Xingzhi is probably going to be disappointed." If what Feifei said was true, this White Tiger opportunity would truly belong to it.
Qin Xi, however, smiled and said, "That guy, if you say he's unlucky, he's actually had countless opportunities to reach this point. If you say he's lucky, he always just misses the great opportunities." Like the Yang Spirit Pearl, and the Vermilion Bird's Bow.
However, when it came to opportunities, others couldn't help. If it didn't belong to Jing Xingzhi, there was nothing they could do.
The two humans and the beast quickly returned. Jing Xingzhi saw their expressions were normal, was suspicious for a moment, then continued focusing on his cultivation.
He was uninjured, so what he was doing now was absorbing the Breath of the White Tiger.
Every time Mo Tiange paused her cultivation, she would see him sitting cross-legged on the ground, with his Zhishui Sword floating before him. Occasionally, specks of fluorescent light would flash on the sword's surface—precisely the Breath of the White Tiger being absorbed into the sword body, transforming its sword energy.
Qin Xi had once told her about Jing Xingzhi's story. This sword of Jing Xingzhi's was an unnamed ancient sword he obtained together with him. Back then, Jing Xingzhi was still the esteemed disciple of Ancient Sword Sect's Venerable Chongguang, riding high on success, looking down on everyone. He was unwilling to casually forge a lifebound flying sword like other sword cultivators and then slowly improve it. Upon obtaining this unnamed ancient sword, Jing Xingzhi was overjoyed and refined it into his lifebound flying sword. The sword art obtained together with this sword was called the Red Dust Sword Art, which had three major killing moves named Gain and Loss, Joy and Sorrow, and Wither and Prosper. The power of these three swords was earth-shattering.
Of course, the so-called earth-shattering power was after achieving great mastery. Great mastery in ancient times was not today's Nascent Soul stage. Even though Jing Xingzhi had already formed his Nascent Soul, it could only be called minor mastery.
Seeing Jing Xingzhi so focused on absorbing the Breath of the White Tiger, Mo Tiange prayed in her heart, hoping that encountering the White Tiger this time could also bring him some opportunity, rather than watching another great opportunity slip right past him again.
As for herself, she didn't have any metal-element cultivation techniques. Having one would be best, but if not, there was no need to force it.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Hongxiao, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Demon Lord Yeshuang and Tian Xuan hurriedly moved closer.
Mo Tiange and the other three also stopped their cultivation, watching them.
"City Lord..."
"Take your time." Demon Lord Yeshuang pressed her shoulder.
Hongxiao steadied her breathing and slowly said, "I pretended to be just a wisp of remnant soul and drifted into the Ghost City..."
This Ghost City was extremely large. According to Hongxiao, it was several times larger than the biggest city in Yunzhong. Within the Ghost City, there were mindless remnant souls, spirit ghosts that only retained memories, and ghost cultivators who had formed ghost infants—the equivalent of Nascent Soul ghost cultivators.
Secular legends said that in the mortal world, there was an unknown ghost city called Fengdu. After people died, their souls would be summoned to Fengdu, judged by the Ghost Emperor, and then re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.
For these cultivators of theirs, this was merely a legend. They had traveled all over the world and had never seen any ghost city. Being able to encounter a few souls that hadn't had their memories erased was considered pretty good.
Yet this Ghost City gathered many, many various kinds of ghosts, very similar to the legendary ghost city Fengdu.
The supreme ruler of the Ghost City was called the Ghost Venerable. No one could accurately say what his cultivation level was. Under the Ghost Venerable, there were sixty-eight Nascent Soul Ghost Emperors who ruled the Ghost City separately. The number of ghosts in the Ghost City was even counted in the hundreds of millions.
The news Hongxiao brought back was shocking. After she finished speaking, the eight people present fell silent.
Qin Xi became even more certain his decision was right. With such a Ghost City, if they didn't notify the Immortal Alliance, how could they possibly escape alive?
At the same time, the atmosphere in the White Tiger Sacrificial Temple grew uneasy.
Demon Lord Yeshuang's group no longer mentioned cooperation. Mo Tiange's group of four also remained silent. Venerable Songfeng hadn't moved from the beginning to the end.
Half a month later, after Hongxiao's injuries had healed, Demon Lord Yeshuang's group began to act.
"Fellow Daoists." Before leaving, Demon Lord Yeshuang came before them.
The four of them stood up one after another to greet her.
Demon Lord Yeshuang's expression was cold, but her words were polite: "The three of us have decided to fight our way out. I wonder if you are willing to join us?"
Qin Xi didn't hesitate: "With so many ghost cultivators outside, the four of us value our lives and will not accompany you fellow Daoists."
Demon Lord Yeshuang nodded. She had long known they wouldn't join the charge; she had just mentioned it casually.
"Fellow Daoist Yeshuang," Jing Xingzhi said with a grin, "with so many Nascent Soul ghost cultivators outside, isn't it too risky for just the three of you to go out like this?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang paused. A ripple appeared on her ice-cold face but immediately calmed again: "The three of us are demonic cultivators. The longer we stay here, the more our cultivation is depleted. It's better to take a chance now while our strength is still intact." Having said that, she didn't give them another chance to ask questions. "Farewell."
Watching Demon Lord Yeshuang leave with Tian Xuan and Hongxiao, the four of them sat down again.
Qin Xi flicked his finger, casting a soundproof barrier: "Anything you want to say?"
"They got something from the Ghost City," Jing Xingzhi said, tapping his sword hilt. It was a statement, not a question. If not for that, they wouldn't have left the sacrificial temple so decisively. Staying here, Demon Lord Yeshuang only needed to expend some demonic energy to protect those two from being burned by the Breath of the White Tiger. But leaving meant risking their lives.
Qin Xi looked at Nie Wushang, then at Jing Xingzhi, and said, "Do you two want to do something?"
These two, one deep in thought, the other's eyes darting around, both seemed unwilling to let things end like this.
Hearing this, Jing Xingzhi chuckled, patting Qin Xi's shoulder: "Are you really willing to let it go? We might actually get some treasure from them to escape!"
Qin Xi, however, glanced at the White Tiger in the center: "So you're giving up on it?"
"..." Jing Xingzhi withdrew his hand and sighed, "I don't want to give up either, but choices have to be made." Did he expect to obtain the White Tiger's legacy, then slaughter his way out in style? He wasn't some naive rookie fool, dreaming all day. To obtain an opportunity, one had to stay alive first.
"Never mind them," Qin Xi said. "I told you, I'll call for reinforcements. We'll just wait here." Having said that, he stared at Jing Xingzhi. Mo Tiange went without saying; he couldn't meddle too much with Nie Wushang. These words were a warning to Jing Xingzhi not to act recklessly.
Jing Xingzhi still tried to argue: "Can your transmission talisman even get out? Even if you can send a message, how do you explain the situation here?"
"No need for you to worry about that. I have my own methods." Qin Xi said indifferently and then said no more, closing his eyes to meditate.
He had lost a drop of blood essence and needed some effort to recover.
Seeing Mo Tiange also staring at him, Jing Xingzhi helplessly spread his hands and continued cultivating as well. Fine, if they weren't leaving, they weren't leaving. It wasn't like he was Venerable Songfeng; he had no grudge with the Immortal Alliance people and wasn't afraid they'd come and kill him first.
The four fell silent again. Mo Tiange transmitted her voice to Feifei: "Can you really take the White Tiger away?"
Feifei, wagging its tail and raising its head, said, "Just wait and see."
After Demon Lord Yeshuang left, it remained quiet outside. If they had used force to fight their way out, it couldn't have been completely silent. It seemed their guess was right—Hongxiao had obtained some treasure from the Ghost City.
However, Mo Tiange found it strange: why was Venerable Songfeng standing by idly like them? They had a backup plan, but what about Venerable Songfeng? Even if he safely waited until the Immortal Alliance people broke the Ghost City, how could he guarantee his own safe escape? For him, the Immortal Alliance people were even more dangerous than those ghost cultivators.
As she was thinking this, it seemed commotion arose outside. Turning her head, she saw the other three had opened their eyes.
"What's going on?" Mo Tiange asked in a low voice.
Qin Xi concentrated, then said after a moment, "Someone's coming." Could it be the Immortal Alliance people?
All four were somewhat tense. If it was the Immortal Alliance people, they would be saved.
But before long, the four were disappointed. Three people, the leader at late Nascent Soul stage, all demonic cultivators—clearly, it was Demon Lord Yeshuang's group returning.
Demon Lord Yeshuang's group returned in a particularly sorry state. Hongxiao's tube top and short skirt were almost covered in bloodstains. On her fair waist, a black mark was shocking to see. Tian Xuan was slightly better; the prosthetic hand he usually kept in his sleeve was exposed and seemed to also have a black mark. Demon Lord Yeshuang's face was pale, her demonic energy significantly depleted.
As soon as she entered, Demon Lord Yeshuang gave a warning glance at them and Venerable Songfeng, then ordered Tian Xuan: "Take out the Demonic Breath Pill." Then, with a wave of her purple silk, she isolated the Breath of the White Tiger and settled Hongxiao within it.
After she finished these actions, Tian Xuan still hadn't moved. Demon Lord Yeshuang turned her head to look at him: "What?"
Tian Xuan said calmly, "Shuang'er, even if we can save her, how can we take her out?"
Demon Lord Yeshuang was stunned. She slowly stood up, staring fixedly at him: "You... you want me to abandon Hongxiao?"
Tian Xuan averted his gaze: "We no longer have any strength to spare."
Demon Lord Yeshuang didn't speak. She just silently looked at Tian Xuan. Until Hongxiao coughed up another mouthful of blood, drawing back her attention.
"City Lord..." Hongxiao raised her head, her expression sorrowful yet resolute, "You go. My injuries are already beyond recovery."
"Don't say such things." Demon Lord Yeshuang's expression immediately turned resolute as she looked at Tian Xuan. "The Demonic Breath Pill."
Tian Xuan still didn't move.
Demon Lord Yeshuang said again: "The Demonic Breath Pill."
Her voice remained calm, but grew more resolute each time.
Tian Xuan finally sighed, took out a pill bottle, and tossed it over.
Demon Lord Yeshuang caught it and was about to take out the pill when suddenly, darkness fell overhead, and a powerful force pressed down.
She waved her hand, a stream of icy demonic energy rising from her sleeve to hold up that force. Just as she was about to turn her head, amidst Hongxiao's cry of "City Lord—", her entire body went numb.
Hongxiao stared in horror behind her, lips trembling: "Young Master..."