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As the blinding light faded, they found themselves on a street lined with buildings on either side. Countless demon cultivators moved about. The only difference was that the sky above them was pitch black, making it feel like an underground city.
Zhou Xuanlan frowned. “These are all mixed-bloods.”
Shen Liuxiang was momentarily stunned. Their arrival had immediately attracted attention. Someone approached them, and Shen Liuxiang quickly retrieved two black pills, one for each of them.
“Eat these; they’ll conceal your aura.”
“Who are you, and why haven’t I seen you before?” The newcomer was tall, wearing coarse linen clothing, and sniffed the foul odor in the air. He looked skeptical. “You’re not from here, right? Newcomers from the outside?”
Shen Liuxiang squinted his eyes and, from his storage bag, pulled out a translucent beast core and handed it over. “We’re newcomers. Nice to meet you.”
The man’s expression changed, and his eyes gleamed as he accepted the beast core. He burst into hearty laughter. “No need to be so polite. We’re all abandoned by the humans and demons here. If we don’t help each other, who else will?”
Shen Liuxiang asked, “Are you a native here?”
“Yeah, most of us are locals, born and raised here,” the man replied with pride. “You newcomers are a rare sight.”
Shen Liuxiang inquired, “Is there something special about this place?”
The man’s expression turned serious as he played with the beast core. “This place is where the mixed-bloods gather. We’re the leftovers from the humans and demons. We’re waiting for the day when the Demon King leads us out, to exterminate the humans and demons and seek revenge!”
“In the future, the Three Realms will belong to us mixed-bloods!” The man said these words with devotion and certainty.
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Shen Liuxiang’s heart sank. He couldn’t help but feel that something was amiss. This city was massive, and the number of mixed-bloods here was extraordinarily high. It seemed that the hybrids from the three realms outside are less than 1% of the ones here.
Huakjian, feeling increasingly uneasy, suggested, “I think we should leave.”
Zhou Xuanlan responded, “It was easy to come here, but it won’t be easy to leave.”
Huajian regretted ever coming here and mentally scolded himself for his curiosity.
He looked at the abnormally high number of mixed-bloods and had a suspicion. If his guess was right, then Wenren Qin was truly an insane man with unimaginable ambitions. His ambitions were too vast, the entire Three Realms wouldn’t be able to accomodate him!
Ye Bingran also had a rough idea of what was going on. His eyes showed a hint of coldness as he walked around, holding his sword. Suddenly, the sword emitted a bright light.
“It’s this way.”
Following the directions from Shen Liuxiang, they ended up in a dead-end. An invisible barrier blocked their path. Although everyone present was skilled in various aspects, only one of them was proficient in formations. All eyes turned to Zhou Xuanlan, silently urging him to find a way.
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Zhou Xuanlan, without many words, tossed dozens of spirit stones. Suddenly, the surroundings changed, and they found themselves at the entrance of a narrow and dimly lit cave.
Zhou Xuanlan led the way, Shen Liuxiang right behind him. As they moved deeper into the cave, the space gradually expanded. Faint noises could be heard coming from the depths.
After walking for about half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the cries and wails became increasingly clear. Shen Liuxiang frowned, and Zhou Xuanlan, who stood at the corner, suddenly stopped and turned to him, saying, “There are many young hybrids here who haven’t fully transformed yet, Master, don’t be afraid.”
Shen Liuxiang nodded and walked forward, peering around the corner.
His pupils contracted.
On the damp and dirty ground, numerous small iron cages were filled with tiny, bloodied bodies, each half-human and half-demon.
The air was filled with a nauseating stench, and Shen Liuxiang followed the smell to look further into the darkness. He saw many decaying corpses.
Zhou Xuanlan held Shen Liuxiang’s slightly cold hand and explained, “The transformation of hybrids into human form is extremely dangerous. A slight mistake can cost them their lives. Those imprisoned here are those who are close to a successful transformation. If they succeed, they should be able to leave their cages.”
Shen Liuxiang’s face turned pale, and he responded with a heavy heart.
Ye Bingran’s face was as cold as ice. His sword, seemingly out of his control, flew towards the opposite end of the cave.
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The others followed him.
The spirit sword stopped in mid-air, surrounded by black flames. The walls had various sizes of holes, each with simple bedding inside. The air was filled with a strange fragrance.
Shen Liuxiang took a whiff before his nose and mouth quickly covered: “Hold your breath, Master.”
Huajian had a strange expression. “This is the Lust Incense. It’s a kind of aphrodisiac I wouldn’t even bother with.” He dismissed it as something unworthy of his interest.
The spirit sword circled around for a while in mid-air, seemingly lost, until suddenly, it flew straight into a wall.
Ye Bingran’s eyes narrowed, and he acted swiftly.
The entire space trembled as the wall shattered into dust. Two large cages emerged, each containing captured cultivators and demon cultivators.
“Sword Sovereign?!”
“Sword Sovereign is here! Sword Sovereign, please save us! Help us, Sword Sovereign! I don’t want to associate with demons! I don’t want to give birth to something that’s neither human nor demon!”
The disciples of the Sword Sect were mixed among the other captives. When they saw Ye Bingran, their faces shifted from despair to ecstasy. They shouted for help, some weeping uncontrollably while they desperately clung to the iron bars of their cages.
Ye Bingran immediately moved to help, but Huajian stopped him. “Calm down first. Don’t forget about those hybrids outside! Each one of them has the power to kill us with a single blow!”
While hybrids were often scorned, they possessed the advantages of both humans and demons, making them favored by fate when it came to cultivation.
Those hybrids walking on the streets might seem ordinary, but they were far from it. Additionally, their sheer numbers made it dangerous to act recklessly now.
During their conversation, a light breeze blew by, causing the black flames in the air to sway slightly.
Shen Liuxiang took out a jade slip, but no matter how he tried to infuse it with his spiritual power, there was no response. He furrowed his brows. Just then, a few wisps of black flames suddenly lunged toward him.
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Shen Liuxiang reacted swiftly, leaping several feet away. The flames missed him but persistently pursued, attempting to envelop him.
In the midst of evading, Zhou Xuanlan suddenly appeared by his side, pulling him into his arms and simultaneously erecting a barrier that separated the roaming flames.
He coldly said, “Since you’re here, why hide?”
Laughter rang out, and the scorching black flames receded to reveal a red-haired man who sighed, “Why not just stay quietly in the Qilin City? Why must you seek your own demise?”
Wenren Qin had followed them after sensing that the formation gate at his mansion had been opened. He had originally thought the entrance to the formation could last until he finished concocting the pill, but he had underestimated Zhou Xuanlan. He was caught off guard, and now that these people knew what he was up to, he couldn’t let them leave.
However, except for one person.
Wenren Qin extended his hand, his gaze fixed on Shen Liuxiang as he spoke in a low voice, “I don’t want you to stand against me. Come to my side.”
Shen Liuxiang remained expressionless and unmoving.
Wenren Qin’s face grew darker. Just then, Ye Bingran acted suddenly. While breaking the chains of the iron cages, he simultaneously sent a sharp sword aura toward Wenren Qin.
Huajian also intervened.
Since there was no chance for reconciliation, it was best to capture the leader first.
Wenren Qin didn’t give them an opportunity. He swiftly moved and appeared in a high place, looking down at Zhou Xuanlan with a sinister expression. “I don’t know how skilled you are in formations, but in here, I am the master. You can’t stop me no matter what you do.”
Wenren Qin gave a cold smile. “In this place, I’ve carefully nurtured tens of thousands of hybrids. Even if a Grand Golden Immortal (1) were to come, they couldn’t escape from the palm of my hand. Killing you all will be a piece of cake.”
He raised his hand, intending to throw the others, except for Shen Liuxiang, into the pile of hybrids.
However, at this moment, Zhou Xuanlan curved his lips and a faint smile appeared on his face. “Is that so? But I can easily overturn this place.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire space shook violently.
A huge gate appeared.
Luo Yu and the others were exhausted, lying on the ground next to a pile of shattered spirit stones. “Finally, finally, it’s done! The formation gate has reversed!”
Under the dark clouds, the once-silent Qilin City suddenly stirred.
T/N: so I guess he really wasn’t joking about taking over the three realms last chapter
(1) – There are 13 cultivation stages, the lowest being level 1: Qi-Refining Stage, and the highest being level 13: Sage. The Grand Golden Immortal Stage is the 11th level, that is to say extremely powerful. Essentially Wenren Qin is saying he is beyond powerful within this playing field.