Chapter Eighteen: The Fierce Battle

Inside the Box World.

Uncle Iron led a group of Xuanqing Palace cultivators in a solemn ritual. This valley ceremony was as grand as ever. Presiding over the rites was a delicate, beautiful woman dressed in pale blue ceremonial attire, her head adorned with a crown of flowers, exuding an aura both sacred and austere—just as Ye Qingyu had done in years past.

Her steps were graceful, her figure elegant; she presented offerings, chanting ancient words in a language of ritual.

"Uncle Iron, now that we are the strongest sect in the world, why do we still need to perform these rites?"

Beside Uncle Iron stood a child with a youthful face, gazing at the altar in puzzlement.

With a sharp smack, Uncle Iron struck the child, scolding harshly:

"Such rebellious words must never be uttered again! Our Xuanqing Palace owes all it has become to the favor of the ancient Celestial Exile. This ceremony is to thank the Elder, and also to pray for the Palace Lord!"

As he spoke, Uncle Iron’s gaze drifted toward the depths of the Wild Mountains. Days ago, Ye Qingyu subdued the Lord of Yama and then ventured deep into the mountains to slay the oldest beast within—a perilous journey that left Uncle Iron uneasy.

"I understand," the child muttered, unwilling but intimidated by Uncle Iron’s stern expression, swallowing his words.

...

This scene unfolded before Qin Feng’s eyes. He watched as Uncle Iron slapped the child, observed the little people performing their ritual, and saw the altar emit a faint glow, enveloping the offerings. Under the light, each item disappeared in turn.

Then, a torrent of information echoed through Qin Feng’s mind, his body nourished by it.

"Interesting—so these little people once offered me rituals, bestowing techniques..."

"My spirit wasn’t strong enough then; the mysterious box sealed the information for me..."

"Otherwise, the sheer volume would have burst my mind..."

Sorting through the influx, Qin Feng could not help but chuckle.

"Through countless ceremonies, my body has been continuously nourished, my spiritual strength greatly enhanced. Now I can bear this knowledge..."

He did not rush to cultivate. With time at his disposal, he fixed his gaze on the Box World, watching the affairs of these little people.

...

At this moment, within the Box World,

Uncle Iron had just finished the ceremony, when a thunderous roar erupted from the depths of the mountains.

"The Palace Lord is fighting the beast deep within the mountains!"

Uncle Iron’s heart leapt; he wanted to help but lacked the strength, afraid he’d only hinder.

"Uncle Iron, do you think Master will win?"

The young woman who had led the ritual approached, worry clouding her face.

"Of course she will!" Uncle Iron feigned confidence, though he was uncertain.

"Ye Qingyu is battling the beast deep in the Wild Mountains?"

Qin Feng sensed the disturbance as well, and turned his attention toward the mountain’s heart.

There, a striking silhouette stood in the void, wielding an ancient sword radiant with spiritual light—her presence bold and heroic.

Before her stood three fierce beasts, encircling her.

At the center was a strange creature, its body crystalline like a gemstone, but in truth, a colossal phoenix-eagle.

To the left towered a rock giant, as massive as a mountain, his body bristling with stone spikes, appearing ferocious.

To the right coiled a huge serpent, horned and crimson, with wings upon its back—an extraordinary sight.

The three ancient and savage beasts surrounded Ye Qingyu, and the battle erupted instantly.

Mountains crumbled, the ground cracked like a spiderweb, ancient trees shattered, sand and gravel flew. Violent waves of spiritual energy surged, battering the peaks like stormy seas.

"These beasts seem formidable..."

Qin Feng saw Ye Qingyu beset on all sides and instinctively wished to aid her.

She was, after all, his own disciple—he could not bear to watch her fall.

"Celestial Exile of the Ancient Way..."

As Qin Feng’s gaze swept toward her, Ye Qingyu seemed to sense it, lifting her eyes to the heavens.

Perhaps she perceived Qin Feng’s intent to intervene.

Ye Qingyu gently shook her head, murmuring as if to herself, "I can slay them."

Her words, meant for Qin Feng, echoed in the mountains, enraging the three ancient beasts.

"You dare challenge us alone? Arrogant!"

...

"Hmph, we mind our own business. Why provoke us?"

...

"Go back now and we’ll pretend nothing happened!"

...

Ye Qingyu heard their words without the slightest change of emotion.

"You three great beasts have plagued the Wild Mountains for ages. Every so often, you drive beast tides to invade the mortal realm, causing endless slaughter to fuel your secret arts. Such actions are intolerable by heaven."

She recalled the beast tide that once beset Xuanqing Palace; if not for the intervention of the Celestial Exile, she and her sect would have perished.

Remembering the tales recorded by her sect, Ye Qingyu, upon finishing her retreat and breaking through, resolved that her first battle would be the extermination of these three beasts.

"In a world where the strong prey upon the weak, the weak exist only under the rule of the strong, their fates not their own," the mountain-sized giant sneered.

"You’re right," Ye Qingyu nodded. "I am stronger than you. I wish to slay you three, the weak, nothing more. Your lives are no longer yours to command."

With these words, spiritual energy poured into her sword, unleashing a terrifying aura.

In the next instant, a waterfall of sword energy, as swift as a startled swan, descended, enveloping the three beasts.

"Fight her!"

Sensing mortal danger, the beasts fought desperately, burning their blood to raise their power!

Qin Feng watched, tempted again and again to intervene, but ultimately restrained himself.

"Better to trust Ye Qingyu..."

"Let’s see what surprises this little one can bring..."

Qin Feng respected Ye Qingyu; since she wished to slay the beasts herself, he would let her.

He watched the valley closely.

The battle raged fiercely, from day into night. Peaks collapsed, ancient trees shattered, dazzling spells erupted again and again in the sky.

After two days of combat,

Ye Qingyu slew all three beasts, her body drenched in blood—none of it her own, but that of the monsters.

"With the bodies of these beasts, I shall build a ship to cross the boundless sea!"