Chapter 143: Hooked
Ji Hongli's eyes flashed with a cold light, leaving no chance for the other to continue. A decadent Blood Lotus bloomed in her palm, its petals like blades, exuding a corrosion that struck straight at Hong Chenji's chest.
"Blood Lotus Heart-Eroding Palm!"
The palm struck Hong Chenji solidly, yet it landed on cotton. Hong Chenji remained motionless, instead wearing a mocking smile. "How laughable. This move should have been your last hope to turn the tide…" He leisurely dusted off his nonexistent chest. "Too bad that old fool chickened out at the last moment; now this technique against me…"
"Useless!"
Ji Hongli's pupils contracted. With a flick of her mouth she unleashed a sword light as bright as snow. The Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword descended like a blade, the sword's edge tearing tiny cracks through space itself. This strike alone could sever an ordinary Saint Realm cultivator's soul and body.
Clang!
Amid the crisp clash of metal, the long sword was casually pinched by Hong Chenji between two fingers. The blade trembled violently but could not advance another inch.
"Nice sword," Hong Chenji commented, tilting his head. "A shame… the power is still a bit lacking."
Ji Hongli abruptly sheathed her sword and sneered, "Why do you talk so much?"
Hong Chenji's smile turned strange. "I was going to say, if you don't let me speak, you can kill me…" His voice twisted into a tone buried deep in Ji Hongli's memories. "Right? Xiao Hongli…?"
That name struck like thunder. Ji Hongli shuddered violently; her pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"You seek death—!"
An overwhelming murderous intent exploded as crimson True Flame ignited around Ji Hongli.
She was furious. Though she did not know how this monster had done it, today this creature that desecrated her memories must die.
Hong Chenji only smiled more pleasantly, his form flickering like a phantom amid the furious assault.
He deliberately let that gentle voice continue:
"Xiao Hongli… why haven't you grown up…?"
"Xiao Hongli… why are you crying…?"
"Xiao Hongli… I made what you like to eat…"
With each word, Ji Hongli's sword rage intensified.
The side courtyard began to collapse as spiderweb cracks appeared in the space.
…
Just as the crimson sword qi was about to erupt fully, Ji Hongli abruptly halted and stood still.
In a flash she had returned to Chen Xingcai's side.
Chen Xingcai looked up, eyes full of worry—not for the precarious situation, but for her master's current state.
Ji Hongli smiled at her little disciple, reached out, and tousled her hair. "Silly girl."
Then she turned, and the cold in her eyes was utterly calm.
"What a pity," she said softly. "That sentence is for you as well."
Hong Chenji's twisted face froze for a moment.
"If it had been one hundred thousand years ago…" Ji Hongli's fingers brushed the sword's edge. "This move might indeed have shaken my Dao heart."
She lifted her gaze; one hundred thousand years of time had condensed into depth in her eyes. "But I am no longer the person back then who would be trapped by the past."
At her words, the Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword gave out a clear, piercing note.
This time the blade did not merely glint with cold light—it carried the indomitable sword intent tempered by one hundred thousand years of lonely refinement.
Hong Chenji finally changed color.
He realized he had possibly made a mistake—
He had not awakened a heart demon.
He had awakened someone who, after one hundred thousand years of vicissitude, had already forged sorrow and joy into Dao—
A peerless True Immortal!
She… truly stood only one step away from the Venerable Realm… If this place were not the Lower Realm where heavenly rules were sparse…
…
A cold sneer formed in Hong Chenji's heart: fortunate, then, that this was his territory, and she had a burden by her side…
His gaze swept Chen Xingcai, and a vicious glint passed through his eyes.
This was her greatest weakness!
If he could exploit it to shatter Ji Hongli, he could not only devour her Saint Realm cultivation, but might even seize the chance to break through into the legendary Ancient God Rank!
At that thought his heart burned ever hotter.
It seemed the key to this battle would still have to be found through Chen Xingcai…
At this moment, Ji Hongli struck again.
But this time, her assault was no longer as violent as before. Each sword move was measured, probing with precision, as if searching for a flaw in his Indestructible Body.
This calmness instead made Hong Chenji uneasy.
Because his Indestructible Body truly had a flaw!
He could not delay any longer…
His eyes flashed coldly as he suddenly looked toward Chen Xingcai, the corners of his lips lifting into a strange smile.
His face twisted, and from his throat came a frail sobbing voice. Shockingly, it was the voice of Chen Xingcai's birth mother:
"Xingcai… save me… Mother was forced…"
The sound was mournful and pitiful, filled with endless suffering.
Chen Xingcai's eyes flickered, but she quickly calmed. She only stared coldly at him, even allowing a trace of mockery to touch her lips.
"You think… I would believe that?"
Hong Chenji frowned but did not give up. His voice shifted again—
This time, it was Hong Ang's deep tone:
"Xingcai, when I heard the news, I rushed back to the Hong family on horseback… but you were already gone."
His words carried sorrow and weariness, as if he had truly searched for her night and day.
"I looked for you ten days and nights… yet you vanished as if from the earth itself."
Chen Xingcai remained silent.
Her gaze grew even colder, as though watching a clumsy performance.
At last, Hong Chenji realized—
These voices, these illusions, to her… meant nothing!
Her heart no longer stirred for such things.
She had long severed these shackles!
Hong Chenji's expression grew ferocious, his voice twisting:
"You… do not even care about your own kin?!"
Chen Xingcai finally spoke, her tone terrifyingly calm:
"It is not that I do not care.
It is that… they have long been dead.
Dead within my heart."
"Good, good, good! Then how about this?" His voice suddenly changed again—
"Xingcai…"
It was Chen Chang'an's voice!
Chen Xingcai trembled, lifting her head sharply.
Hong Chenji continued in Chen Chang'an's tone:
"I married your master, and we have a new daughter…"
His voice was gentle, yet cruelly indifferent—
"So, I do not want you anymore."
…
In that instant of wavering, Chen Xingcai suddenly felt the world spin.
When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in a familiar valley.
Around her, red lanterns and festive decorations filled the air with joy. Senior brothers and sisters bustled about, faces brimming with smiles.
Her heart shook as she instinctively grabbed Senior Brother Xiao Chen who passed by. "What is going on?"
Xiao Chen frowned and shook off her hand, his eyes full of disdain. "Of course, master is getting married." With a cold laugh, he added, "By the way, we will soon have a new junior sister. You should return to your Hong family."
Chen Xingcai felt as if struck by lightning. Before she could recover, Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister approached side by side.
Second Senior Brother sighed, shaking his head. "Xingcai, you are ultimately of the Hong family. Why cling here?"
Third Senior Sister's face was mocking. "I heard your master is already pregnant, and it is a daughter. Naturally, master values his own bloodline more."
Chen Xingcai stood dazed, staring blankly at the scene, her heart sinking into loss.
Then she heard someone shout—the auspicious hour had arrived!
Chen Chang'an, tall and handsome in a crimson wedding robe, appeared with elegance, gently holding the hand of Ji Hongli dressed in phoenix crown and scarlet veil.
The master's usually cold and stunning face carried a hint of shyness, the crimson at the corner of her eyes brighter than blood on a sword.
…
The loss, anger, and grievance from moments ago scattered like clouds pierced by a sword.
Chen Xingcai blinked.
Then blinked again.
And then—
"Ah…" she muttered softly, eyes growing brighter. "Master and Father…"
Her heart pounded wildly. She quickly covered her mouth, afraid she would laugh aloud.
She shipped it!
…
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