Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Mysterious Bat

Wan Youxue watched the fierce battle, her heart heavy with emotion. Of course, Ji Muyu hadn’t wanted her to know about any of this; he’d given her a sedative. But how could Wan Youxue, whose memories had already returned, be unaware? Before dinner, she had secretly taken an antidote capable of counteracting the effects of such tranquilizers.

She had waited until Ji Muyu led his men out of Xianyu Palace before drugging the surrounding guards and slipping away on her own. She hadn’t expected that before midnight, her appearance would transform—her hair and eyes turning a vivid red! Perhaps this was what Yinyao had warned her about: her medicines could only last for a short while. By morning, the special potion Yinyao had given her would surely lose its effects.

Crouching low, Wan Youxue tried to edge closer to the others. With her memories restored, so too was her power; concealing her presence for a short time was no longer difficult. She could only hope she wouldn’t be discovered.

As she wished, no one noticed her. Everyone’s attention was locked on the battle raging before them. Who would suspect the woman Ji Muyu had drugged would be up and about?

Yinyao’s left hand swayed rhythmically, bells clashing in a melody both beautiful and deadly. Lost in focus, Yinyao traced strange patterns in the air, shapes no one could decipher—ancient sigils she’d once uncovered during a tomb raiding expedition.

The bats Ji Muyu had struck down were piling up, their lifeless bodies forming a mound. Yinyao glanced up at the star-studded sky—constellations so clear and bright, unlike anything seen in the twenty-first century. She laughed softly, halting her left hand. Instantly, all the bats suspended in midair froze, their eyes glowing with a crimson hue tinged with white.

Ji Muyu watched Yinyao’s movements in confusion, unable to fathom what she was doing. Yet he would not remain passive.

Behind him, the black dragon twisted and soared forward, its claws rending the bats suspended in the air. Yet, curiously, even when torn asunder, the bats remained motionless where they hung—a most unnatural sight.

Yinyao’s right hand gripped the Ice Spirit. With a flick, she repeated the same intricate motions as before, drawing the identical sigil—she was re-enacting the spell with her spirit weapon.

As the final stroke was completed, her right hand tensed. A red dot blossomed upon the silvery Ice Spirit, advancing steadily forward. With a sudden shout, Yinyao drove the red mark straight to the heart of the sigil.

In that instant, the once pliant Ice Spirit stiffened as if forged from steel; it became a spear, the red dot striking the sigil’s center with precision.

Ji Muyu at last understood—this was the crucial first step! He focused intently on Yinyao and the bizarre pile of bat corpses. If he wasn’t mistaken, the source of the anomaly was those very bats.

Just as he expected, the bats’ corpses began to rise, spinning in the air. Even those that had fallen to the ground slowly lifted, drawn by some unseen force.

Ji Muyu’s Twin Soul Hooks slipped from his hands, spinning and interlocking in midair until they merged into one. Grasping this new form, he hurled it toward the swirling mass of bats, intent on scattering them.

But Yinyao was not about to let him succeed. With a flick of her left hand, the seven silken threads of her rainbow chain shot out, winding around the Twin Soul Hooks. Sparks flew as they scraped together, slowing the weapon’s momentum. Yinyao knew her chain was but a common weapon, no match for a spirit artifact; her true aim was merely to delay.

With a deft movement, she threw her now-pliable Ice Spirit, entangling the hooks and yanking them off course, swinging them wildly through the air.

Seeing his weapon so manipulated sparked Ji Muyu’s anger. He murmured a silent command, and suddenly, the Twin Soul Hooks shuddered violently, breaking free of the Ice Spirit’s grasp and hurtling straight for the bats—unstoppable, unyielding.

Ji Muyu smiled as he watched.

Yinyao’s brow creased minutely; it seemed some harm was unavoidable. Yet even if Ji Muyu’s spirit weapon struck the bats, it would have little effect.

Just as Yinyao anticipated, when the Twin Soul Hooks collided with the bats, the mass merely quivered. At last, Ji Muyu could see the faint, transparent barrier encasing the bodies—a wall Yinyao had conjured, impervious to his attacks.

Resigned, Ji Muyu ceased wasting energy. Standing firm, his spiritual power surged visibly, drawing the attention of everyone present; the rapidly rising pressure could not be ignored.

In contrast to the calm between these two, the duel between Yin Su and Gu Xinyu was fierce and wild.

A tiger’s roar met the cry of the phoenix—neither willing to yield.

Above them, the shadowy forms of sacred beasts clashed; below, Gu Xinyu wielded the Tiger’s Roar, Yin Su gripped her Feather Blade, their weapons colliding in a flurry of ringing blows.

Yin Su closed her eyes, sending a flurry of feathers toward Gu Xinyu. With a deft spin, Gu Xinyu used the Tiger’s Roar to create a protective wall of force and spirit, defending herself with calm composure.

Seeing this, Yin Su’s gaze sharpened. Gripping her Feather Blade like a dagger, she dove toward Gu Xinyu, blade gleaming ominously in the light. Gu Xinyu hastily raised her weapon to block, twisting it so its edge traced dangerously close to Yin Su’s face.

Yin Su’s heart skipped a beat, grateful she turned her head in time—else she might have been scarred for life. Dodging Gu Xinyu’s strike, Yin Su twisted her body, appearing behind her opponent in an instant. The Feather Blade extended, transforming into a long sword, which Yin Su thrust at Gu Xinyu’s back.

Sensing the cold intent, Gu Xinyu bent low, spinning around to slash upward with the Tiger’s Roar.

A resounding crash, sparks flying—the force of their clashing spirit weapons sent both retreating several paces. Catching sight of each other’s slightly disheveled figures, Yin Su and Gu Xinyu couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Did they still remember their days training together?

Two equals, always striving for victory, yet always ending in a draw; back then, their ragged states had felt oddly comforting.

But what of now?

“I know you always went easy on me before, which is why we always ended in a tie. Today, I want to defeat you outright—not because you let me, but by my own strength!” Yin Su declared loudly, facing Gu Xinyu.

Gu Xinyu shook her head. Yin Su had no idea that, in the end, their skills had truly become equal—there was no holding back.

“No, it was never me going easy. It was your own strength,” Gu Xinyu replied with a rueful smile.

“All the better!” Yin Su replied, her fighting spirit undimmed.

Unseen in the shadows, Wan Youxue crept even closer. Watching Yinyao’s enigmatic abilities, she was filled with puzzlement; but seeing Ji Muyu’s power surge, she grew uneasy. Such rapid growth was anything but ordinary.

Had he learned some forbidden art?

Wan Youxue leaned forward, trying to observe more closely. But just as she poked her head out, she felt someone’s gaze sweeping her way. She immediately shrank back, peering out to spot Chu Su Yi—the one she had seen before, Ji Muyu’s own brother, the sunny boy she once knew as Ji Xuanyu.

Looking from Ji Muyu to Ji Xuanyu, Wan Youxue lowered her head. The two brothers, now standing on opposing sides, reminded her all too clearly of how Ji Muyu had slaughtered his own kin for power and position. She wondered about her own bond with Ji Muyu—was it love, or was “enemy” a more fitting word?

She bowed her head, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. In that moment, Ji Xuanyu’s voice rang out, tense with alarm.

“Muye, Ai Shuo, be careful!” He’d been chilled by what he’d just witnessed.

In that instant, Lie, who had vanished, appeared behind Muye and Ai Shuo, his hands clawed and reaching for their necks.

Thanks to Ji Xuanyu’s timely warning, Muye and Ai Shuo spun reflexively, launching their concealed weapons as they leapt back. Only then did they see Lie’s face—and felt immense gratitude for Ji Xuanyu’s intervention.

Lie’s eyes had turned blood-red—like a harbinger of death.

Ji Xuanyu leaped to their side, positioning himself protectively before them. Previously, they’d thought Lie was but an ordinary man, which was why Muye and Ai Shuo had dared to confront him. Now, it was clear the two of them were no match.

Sensing the overpowering malice radiating from Lie, Ji Xuanyu immediately thought of Lin’s death. He turned to Muye and Ai Shuo, nodding for them to step back.

But Muye and Ai Shuo shook their heads resolutely.

“Xuanyu, you have to trust us! Don’t forget why we spent that whole month training!” Muye’s tone was unusually firm, and Ai Shuo nodded in agreement.

Ji Xuanyu relented. “Very well, but be careful. If it gets dangerous, stay behind me.”

Seeing their brotherly bond, Lie’s lips curled in a sinister smile.

“How touching, such brotherly affection.”

Ai Shuo, incensed by his tone, nearly acted, but Ji Xuanyu shook his head and Muye restrained her. Now was not the time to provoke Lie’s fury. His words were clear: if they could have such brotherhood, what about his own brother?

“Lie, I have nothing to say about Lin’s death. Come at me!” Ji Xuanyu summoned the Blazing Flame to his hand, steam hissing as the moisture in the air evaporated. Behind him, a fiery dragon surged, eager for battle.

“Very well!”

Without another word, Lie charged straight at them, indifferent to their numbers.