Chapter 105: The Dispute Between Two People

The purple python sensed his presence and immediately opened its eyes, flicking its tongue at him. The crimson tongue darted out again and again, its eyes cold and murderous, as if it might devour him the very next moment.

Inside the room, Bai Shengyun, who had been resting, slowly opened his amber eyes. Though he was still somewhat drained, he had at least recovered a bit, so when he leapt down from the high bed, his form gradually shifted into that of a human. Yet his gilded irises were slightly dim, and fatigue lingered in the lines of his face.

He opened the door and walked down the steps, waving calmly at the three purple pythons whose tongues flickered warily. Seeing this, the purple pythons retreated to the side, still watching him with guarded eyes, afraid he might do something harmful to Bai Shengyun.

"Your three snakes are certainly obedient," Huo Tianqing sneered, his gaze indifferent but his demeanor icy and sinister.

Bai Shengyun paid no mind to his attitude, instead cutting straight to the point: "Have you made up your mind?"

"Naturally." At those words, Huo Tianqing's eyes narrowed slightly, murderous intent radiating from him.

Bai Shengyun sensed something was wrong, his brows furrowing, and the purple pythons beside him began to hiss warnings.

A moment later, the flowers embroidered on Huo Tianqing's sleeves fluttered, and the sound of countless ghosts wailing pierced the air, stabbing at their ears. Lycoris flowers bloomed everywhere, and beneath the remnants of petals, skeletal remains began to crawl out one after another.

In the midst of the blossoms, it was no longer the alluring ghost, but numerous fierce spirits of all sizes, their heavy deathly aura and resentment pressing down oppressively.

Thunder rolled once more, and the summoned ghosts cackled maniacally.

The tails of the three purple pythons slowly rose, as if ready to sweep down at any moment and scatter him and the ghosts alike.

The raging wind whipped Bai Shengyun's robes, but he stood his ground, neither retreating nor yielding, his brows knitting as he asked in a low voice, "What is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning? Perhaps you should ask yourself, Young Emperor of the Celestial Fox Clan!" The last sentence was spat out by Huo Tianqing, each word laced with hatred and venom.

Bai Shengyun was baffled.

The mass of ghosts surged toward the iron thorns, never pausing despite being wounded and battered. Outside the Hehuan Palace, the ghost cultivators grew restless, drifting about in agitation, some even madly ramming themselves against the red lacquered pillars.

"You just want to take Yingying back and let your elders punish her, don't you!" Huo Tianqing's aura flared, and the ghosts crashed against the iron thorns with greater force, some mysteriously making it over, biting relentlessly at the purple pythons, undeterred even as they were struck and wounded by the electricity.

The three purple pythons swung their tails to fend off the ghosts attacking their bodies, while snapping at the fiends attempting to cross the iron thorns, growing increasingly agitated...

Then Huo Tianqing sneered, "Is Yingying a stain on your Celestial Fox Clan? I think you and Bai Qirui invading my demon sect are the true disgrace to the Celestial Fox Clan, even to the immortal sects!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the ghosts' eyes gleamed, their strength surging, spiritual power fluctuating with every move, and their dense yin energy coalesced into the form of a ferocious beast high above.

Such commotion forced thunder to strike again, lightning flashing and roaring, almost indistinguishable from the heavenly punishment before, ready to descend at any moment.

Bai Shengyun realized then that those stubborn elders likely still harbored the intention to kill Xie Yingying. Anger flared in his heart, but recalling that her life hung by a thread, he forced himself to restrain his temper and warned Huo Tianqing, "If you truly insist on fighting me here, the purple-gold thunder and the power of the heavens will only ensure mutual destruction."

"What does it matter?" Huo Tianqing gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, his face twisted with fury and hatred. "If you refuse to abandon this idea, what's wrong with battling you to the end?!"

Bai Shengyun felt uneasy.

Before he could ponder further, Huo Tianqing raised his life sword, its sharp tip aimed directly at him, as if wishing to pierce Bai Shengyun with a thousand wounds.

Without hesitation, Huo Tianqing advanced, channeling spiritual power into his sword, until it rang with a resonant cry.

He formed a hand seal, and the sword leapt into the air, its tip pointed at a certain spot, causing the array to waver.

Bai Shengyun's brows drew even tighter.

That sword tip was targeting the weakest point of the formation!

He had spent some time in the demon sect's territory, and had guessed that Huo Tianqing was skilled in formations, but he hadn't expected such mastery—he identified the array's vulnerability in a single glance.

Even Bai Qirui, older than him and more interested in formations, could not have achieved such insight!

Bai Shengyun stepped forward, his gaze frosty, steadying the formation. "Calm yourself. If Xie Yingying doesn't return with me soon, she will truly die. Besides, I had no knowledge of the elders' intention to punish her before this."

Huo Tianqing ignored his explanation, lifting his hand and pressing down forcefully. The spirit sword in the air, like a meteor, crashed down, radiating immense pressure.

A crack split open in the array, and before long, the entire formation shattered.

Bai Shengyun was shaken, and the three purple pythons immediately lunged forward.

Huo Tianqing faced the pythons unflinchingly, raising his sword, a cold gleam flashing, and he sliced off the tail of one python in a single stroke!

The python reared back and screamed, its severed tail writhing on the ground.

The purple-gold bell trembled incessantly on Xie Yingying's ankle, its chimes ringing loudly, waking the artifact spirit, which began to wail and cry.

Xie Yingying was roused by the noise, sensing something was wrong outside. She slowly got up, nearly collapsing as before, and had to sit hurriedly back on the bed, accidentally catching her breath and coughing uncontrollably.

After a while, she recovered, draped herself in an outer robe, and opened the door. She saw Huo Tianqing crossing the iron thorns and purple pythons, clashing swords with Bai Shengyun, while ghosts and pythons tangled fiercely, both sides locked in chaos.

Their battle had torn a gaping hole in the concealed array that had been painstakingly repaired after the last conflict. Now, many disciples of the demon sect were approaching outside Hehuan Palace, shocked and terrified by the scene.

Huo Tianqing saw her come out, noticed her pale face and feeble breath, and his gaze grew even more resentful, never blinking as he watched Bai Shengyun, prepared to stop him from harming Xie Yingying.

But Bai Shengyun only shouted angrily at Xie Yingying without turning his head, "Go back!"

Xie Yingying refused, and instead called out to Huo Tianqing, "Master, can you take me away?"

Huo Tianqing frowned at her plea, then cursed at Bai Shengyun, "So you truly harbor ill intentions toward Xie Yingying!"

Bai Shengyun spun his sword, feeling an inexplicable discomfort in his heart.