Crimson flame.
It was the sacred fire that Vermilion Sparrow, founder of Lingxiao Temple, had spent his entire life pursuing.
This greatest fire cultivator in the history of Chenping Continent, from ancient times to the present, never managed to touch even a trace of it in his lifetime.
Crimson red like blood, burning away all evil.
It was the ultimate extreme of yang within fire.
The Yin Sha entity born from the ink-black, thick mist seemed to move even faster after passing through that inner court elder of Mirage Palace.
A gaunt figure emerged from the black mist, its horrifying, chilling face barely retaining shadows of Yuan Yi's features.
The Yin Sha entity opened its mouth wide, as if letting out some mournful howl, and lunged toward Su Hongzhen's direction.
The crimson flame patterns on the blade of the Xun-Li Sword in Su Hongzhen's hand rapidly shifted from their original color to a blood-red hue.
The moment the crimson flame made contact with the Yin Sha entity within the black mist, the entity was completely engulfed by the blood-red fire.
A heart-wrenching, wailing scream—enough to unsettle anyone—erupted from the burning black mist.
But the speed of the gaunt bones within the mist did not diminish in the slightest.
Though crimson flame was inherently ultimate yang, Su Hongzhen's current cultivation was merely that of a Martial Spring Realm cultivator. With only his strength, he couldn't harm the root of the gaunt bones within the mist before him.
The burning black mist continued charging toward Su Hongzhen.
In his flickering pupils reflected the blood-red flames and that gaunt, terrifying face like a weeping specter.
Yet from his gaze, not a trace of fear or retreat could be detected.
Su Hongzhen gripped the Xun-Li Sword tightly, stepped forward slightly with his right foot, then swept the blade horizontally.
Immediately after, the clear ring of metal echoed.
The moment the blade edge in this cyan daoist robe-clad youth's hand met the gaunt bones within the mist, a scorching fierce wind surged. The crimson flames split along Su Hongzhen's form, howling past him to either side.
A harsh, rasping shriek rang out as the Yin Sha entity within the mist tumbled and rolled. Black fragments constantly scattered with the wind, flying wildly through the air.
Under the intense heat of the crimson flame, those black fragments swirling and drifting in midair began to burn, igniting into red fire.
The gaunt bones within the mist dissolved almost instantly, not even a trace of Yin Sha energy left on Cang Luan Cliff. Only a few wisps of green smoke slowly rose from the ground, stirring up some dust, spiraling, and dispersing into the heavens and earth.
Su Hongzhen stood still, staring at the Xun-Li Sword in his hand.
He clearly hadn't cut anything just now, yet...
"Quick, be on guard!"
Only then did the figures of those several Mirage Palace cultivators at the Qi Sea Realm, who had been waiting on Cang Luan Cliff all along, emerge one after another, shielding Su Hongzhen in front of them. Each was vigilantly observing their surroundings.
One of the Qi Sea Realm cultivators stepped forward a few paces, fixing his gaze on the shriveled corpse of the inner court elder lying on the ground.
"I'll go find Elder Lin immediately. The rest of you, stay on alert!"
The Qi Sea Realm cultivator said in a grave tone, then leaped high into the air, flying through the air. Within a few breaths, his figure vanished from Cang Luan Cliff.
At that very moment, on Cang Luan Cliff by the trees.
The leaves swayed slightly with the wind. Under the night sky's reflection, two figures standing among the branches flickered in and out of visibility.
Zhou Jinyun let out a slight sigh of relief.
Just moments ago, Su Hongzhen had come within a hair's breadth of dying under the gaunt black claws of that Yin Sha entity, just like that Mirage Palace inner court elder.
Of course, there was nothing to worry about in the first place, because everything was within Mr. You's plan.
The existence or nonexistence of that level of Yin Sha entity was merely a matter of a single thought for Mr. You.
Mr. You had obviously noticed Zhou Jinyun's reaction as well, smiling slightly:
"What, is that Mirage Palace inner court elder's life not considered a human life?"
Zhou Jinyun, caught off guard by the question, showed a hint of awkwardness. But that awkwardness only lingered on her face for an instant:
"Sir, it seems you didn't treat that Mirage Palace inner court elder's life as a human life either."
That was Zhou Jinyun's rebuttal.
If Mr. You had wanted to, he could definitely have dealt with that Yin Sha entity before it killed the Mirage Palace inner court elder.
Mr. You, faced with the counter-question, remained perfectly calm.
"Life and death each have their own Fate."
This young cultivator in plain-colored daoist robes said lightly:
"I didn't save him—that was his Fate."
Zhou Jinyun couldn't understand Mr. You's words. She didn't grasp what criteria he used to decide whether to save someone or not.
Based on his mood?
Or based on whether they still had any use?
In truth, Zhou Jinyun felt no sadness over the death of that Mirage Palace inner court elder, whom she had only met a few times recently.
Mirage Palace was vast. Among the Five Great Sects of Chenping Continent, it was not only the oldest immortal sect but also the largest in scale.
The combined number of inner and outer sect disciples could even exceed eighty thousand.
That Mirage Palace inner court elder was a complete stranger to Zhou Jinyun, so in her heart, at most, she felt a bit of pity for a fellow sect member.
As for Little Su...
"What, not going to check on him?"
Mr. You said.
"No need."
Zhou Jinyun, snapping back to focus, slowly shook her head.
"Oh?"
Mr. You glanced at Zhou Jinyun a few more times:
"Don't tell me that after this Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry started, you still haven't shown yourself in front of that kid?"
"..."
Zhou Jinyun was silent, then nodded.
"Why? A dignified Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace—could it be that you're shy, afraid to meet your lover?"
Mr. You continued teasing.
Hearing this, Zhou Jinyun still didn't speak, only shot a fierce glare in Mr. You's direction.
She didn't know how she dared to glare like that at a great senior whose cultivation level was above Ascending to Immortality.
Perhaps it was because Mr. You himself seemed to carry no airs of a senior.
And the things he said made it hard to address him with a respectful tone.
"It's because, a few years ago, Little Su and I still have some minor conflicts unresolved."
Zhou Jinyun said.
"Is that so?"
Mr. You said calmly, clasping his hands behind his back, lifting his head to gaze at the Heavenly Summit Palace, which remained as usual.
"...There's one more thing, sir."
Zhou Jinyun's voice came from beside him.
"Speak."
"What's between Little Su and me... it's not—"
"What?"
"..."
Zhou Jinyun just lowered her head, clenched her fists, and said nothing.