Chapter Fifty-Five: Escape from the Abyss

Lord Ning Jiu and several Ning family cultivators were swept out of the tunnel by the current. They tried to fight their way back, but the water at the tunnel entrance spun into a dark vortex, making any attempt to return as good as throwing themselves into a trap. They could only barely hold their ground between the tunnel mouth and the stone pillars, relying on their own strength to withstand the force of the water.

As more people arrived behind them, the stone terrace between the stalagmite and the tunnel entrance quickly became overcrowded.

After all, Ning Bai Xia was a Golden Core cultivator. Even with his powers suppressed, he could still unleash a higher-level technique at the cost of his own essence and blood. “Seal!” His hands flashed through a series of hand seals, weaving a crimson barrier that fixed the stalagmite in place and sealed the tunnel entrance. The water was cut off, and the accumulated water on the stone terrace outside the tunnel rapidly evaporated.

The people and demon beasts hanging from the stalagmite all jumped down. When the little white bear slid off, there was no water left, but it was still flailing. Yu Youwei grabbed the scruff of its neck and snapped, “Calm down!”

Steadying itself, the little white bear let out another sharp scream. “Ah—!”

“What now?” Yu Youwei sighed.

“The way ahead is blocked, the tunnel is sealed. Are we going to starve to death here?” The little white bear waved its tiny paws in despair, but only Yu Youwei could hear its voice; the others just heard the pitiful bear’s wail.

“What do we do now?” Yu Youwei instinctively looked toward Ning Bai Xia.

Glancing at the eerie, terrifying tunnel, Ning Bai Xia’s brow furrowed deeply.

At this moment, Xiang Bingfeng, seeing everyone safely on the now-dry stone terrace, broke the seal at the tunnel entrance with her trumpet-shaped magical instrument and charged out without a word.

The water trapped in the tunnel surged out, catching everyone off guard and sweeping most into the red light, Yu Youwei included.

“Cloudlight Ascent!” Ning Bai Xia thrust out his palm, sending a surge of power that appeared like light clouds in the red glow, lifting everyone back to the stone terrace. At the same time, he quickly wove another series of seals, resealing the tunnel entrance. He spun around and shouted furiously at Xiang Bingfeng, “What madness has possessed you?!”

“I can’t hold on any longer,” Xiang Bingfeng stammered, her pale lips quivering as she was on the verge of tears.

Ghost Seven slipped out from the crowd and stood in front of Xiang Bingfeng.

After casting her a cold glance, Ning Bai Xia addressed everyone, “We cannot go back into the tunnel. I’ll fly you out. However, the power of the earth fire here is immense—I cannot guarantee we’ll make it out safely.”

“Thank you for your noble kindness, Third Young Master!”

As a middle-aged cultivator spoke, everyone else joined in flattery.

Yu Youwei was surprised: for someone as cold-faced as Ning Bai Xia, he commanded considerable respect. Even with everyone’s strength suppressed to the Qi Refining stage by the formation, they still pinned their hopes of escape on him!

Ning Bai Xia produced a peacock feather, vivid green in hue. All but the Ning family members looked on with greedy eyes; someone whispered, “An Immortal Chen Peacock Feather!”

A treasure invites envy, Yu Youwei thought. The Immortal Chen Peacock Feather was a famed flying artifact of the Immortal Chen Sect. For Ning Bai Xia to take it out so openly and remain unmolested, she had to admire him. The twin swords in her own possession were also treasures, but she had to keep them hidden, never daring to let others know. Wearing a brocade robe at night, only to hide it—wasn’t that a kind of unspeakable pain?

The light peacock feather became a feathered skiff once released. When everyone had boarded, Ning Bai Xia guided the feathered boat into the red glow. The higher-ranking cultivators instinctively took up positions at the perimeter, joining forces to raise a magical shield against the infernal heat waves. Yu Youwei did not try to stand out, letting Lord Ning Jiu push her to the boat’s center, where she ended up pressed almost against Ning Bai Xia. Xiang Bingfeng also took the initiative to crowd toward him.

Xiang Bingfeng brazenly pressed her ample chest against Ning Bai Xia’s body. He shrank back in disgust, only to press even closer to Yu Youwei. His body involuntarily responded, which Xiang Bingfeng misinterpreted, causing her to reach for his lower abdomen.

“Get away, or I’ll toss you off,” Ning Bai Xia growled coldly.

Everyone present was astute; they immediately understood what Xiang Bingfeng was up to. Embarrassed, her fair face flushed dark purple, but she dared not protest, only glaring at Yu Youwei with hatred.

“He’s the one scolding you, not me. Why glare at me?” Yu Youwei felt helpless. Some people were just born adversaries; Xiang Bingfeng must have been her nemesis from a past life.

Mind clouded with jealousy, Xiang Bingfeng shouted, “You’re pressed against him too! Why isn’t he scolding you?”

Yu Youwei almost choked on her own saliva, then retorted sharply, “Sister, if you want to seduce Ning Bai Xia, there’s no need to be so obvious. Besides, if you want to seduce him, don’t drag others into it, all right? My husband would mind.”

Ning Bai Xia’s body tensed instantly, rigid as stone.

“What does your husband’s objection have to do with this Princess?” Xiang Bingfeng sneered, arrogance flaring.

“Well, if my husband cares, it means you have no chance with Ning Bai Xia,” Yu Youwei replied lazily, as if chatting with a close friend in a garden, yet her tone effortlessly stifled Xiang Bingfeng’s bravado.

No one else spoke. Other than Xiang Bingfeng, everyone’s sole desire now was to escape this hellish place.

The world of red light seemed endless. Inside the protective shield, the temperature climbed higher and higher. The armor on Xiang Bingfeng and Ning Bai Xia lit up in icy white and crimson hues, while the others’ armor cracked and exploded with sharp sounds. The robes of the weaker cultivators began to smoke, their skin quickly charring and blackening. The terror of being burned alive gripped all their hearts.

“My fur is about to be scorched!” wailed the little white bear. Due to Yu Youwei’s earlier warning, only she could understand it, but everyone heard the bear’s long, mournful howl, which unsettled their spirits. Ning Bai Xia nearly lost control, almost sending everyone plunging into the magma lake.

Ignoring the panicked glutton, Yu Youwei pointed ahead. “What is that?”

Ning Bai Xia was also gazing forward. Though his cultivation was suppressed, his spiritual sense remained sharp enough to see that the black dot was the exit of a mountain cave.

An illusion? The thought had barely formed in Ning Bai Xia’s mind when the feathered skiff suddenly plummeted. “There’s the exit!” he shouted in desperation. Grabbing Yu Youwei and Xiang Bingfeng, he leaped with all his strength toward the cave mouth. The rest quickly followed.

Below, the feathered skiff plunged into the magma, sending up waves of molten rock a hundred feet high, terrifying everyone.

Utter darkness, utter silence. Even the glow of the armor on Ning Bai Xia and Xiang Bingfeng was swallowed by the blackness. Fear of being consumed by the dark overwhelmed them, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

Suddenly, shards of sunlight broke through. Spirits lifted all at once, and they tumbled out of the darkness, landing on soft earth fragrant with the scent of grass and trees.

Sunlight glimmered on dew-laden leaves, weaving a gentle net of light that cast a dreamlike halo over everything. Yu Youwei cried out in wonder, “Where is this? It’s so beautiful!”

“It would be even better if I weren’t someone’s cushion,” came Ning Bai Xia’s grumbling voice by her ear.

Instinctively looking down, Yu Youwei found herself lying atop Ning Bai Xia—her lips pressed to his.