After the Villainess Awakens

Leng Mushi could almost feel the coldness of the bone sword. The sword pierced Xiao Mian's chest and seemed to be going down further, as if it was going to split him in half.

She assumed that this illusion of the bone sword killing Xiao Mian was woven by the Dream Fox to disturb her mind. However, this illusion was too real. She could even smell the blood on Xiao Mian and feel the shock in her heart at that moment.

However, as Leng Mushi pulled out the Dream Fox's demonic arts strand by strand, the illusion quickly fell apart. As the Dream Fox's cries in the alchemy furnace became weaker and weaker, the Dream Stones in the entire Dream Fox lair gradually dimmed.

The pure spiritual energy in Leng Mushi's alchemy furnace became more and more intense. It was the spiritual energy of the Dream Stones extracted from the Dream Fox's lair through its body.

After these spiritual powers overflowed in the Mustard Seed Alchemy Furnace, they nourished Leng Mushi. Her torn meridians were repaired, and her soul, which had been bitten through by the Dream Fox's young but sharp teeth, was also restored to its original state by this abundant spiritual energy.

More and more disciples began to wake up. The entire Dream Fox lair also began to crack and even fall off the walls due to the extraction of spiritual energy.

Soon the entire lair was shaking. The walls of the Dream Stone, which had lost their spiritual light, spread and cracked like a spider web. The disciples almost all woke up. However, Xiao Mian was still blocking the entrance of the cave with his sword in hand, not allowing anyone to approach. Facing all the disciples, including his own sect's Leng Tianyin and Yi Tu Xingzhou, his face was solemn.

Xiao Mian had not looked back. He did not know that Leng Mushi no longer needed his protection. Not to mention that the manipulated disciples had long since woken up from the illusion because the Dream Fox's demonic power had almost run out. Even if they were still bewitched, no one would be able to get close to Leng Mushi.

Pure spiritual energy, comparable to an entire spiritual vein, was pouring into her meridians crazily. The meridians could not bear the tearing, but they were instantly healed by the abundant spiritual energy. Leng Mushi was suffering repeatedly in pain. Her meridians became wider and wider until they could accommodate all the spiritual energy flowing.

Soon, these spiritual powers overflowed from Leng Mushi's body and began to form a罡wind around her, which could crush everything and rotate around her.

She was about to advance. No cultivator could attack another person when they were advancing. Even when the lowest level disciple was advancing, a powerful cultivator could not hurt them.

Therefore, at this moment, she did not need Xiao Mian to fight for her life anymore. She was invincible. The spiritual energy罡wind rotating around her could crush any spiritual weapon.

The shattered and chaotic Dream Fox barrier finally shattered. At the same time, the spiritual light around Leng Mushi finally soared into the sky.

There were no auspicious birds in this Demon Clan relic that could come and circle around. However, after the cave they were in completely collapsed, the demonic birds rushed up and were completely crushed by the spiritual light, turning into wisps of black smoke in the air and drifting away with the wind.

The disciples were exposed to the rising morning sky. They looked up in a daze and saw the Yinxi Demonic Birds rushing towards the spiritual light like moths to a flame, and then they were all shattered by the advancing spiritual light and turned into ashes.

After one wave passed, the disciples picked up their weapons and were about to spread out their formation to meet the enemy, when a second wave of spiritual energy burst out from Leng Mushi's body.

"Two levels in a row…" Ni Hanyan from the Huanxi Sect looked at Leng Mushi with a complicated expression. Her eyes were full of surprise, and she muttered, "Are alchemists so powerful now?"

The Buddhist cultivators of the Zhenwu Temple, led by Bu Jin, also offered up their magical weapons one after another. However, they could not use them at all and just stared at Leng Mushi in a daze.

She was facing the alchemy furnace and did not even open her eyes after advancing two levels in a row. The pure spiritual energy surrounding her had reached the level of white mist visible to the naked eye. The spiritual energy that could not be absorbed by her all rushed to the sky.

What a waste! However, at this moment, no one dared to go forward and rub against this kind of spiritual energy. They were afraid that they would not be able to rub against it and would be injured by the powerful spiritual energy罡wind.

On the other hand, although the disciples of the Taichu Sect also showed envious expressions, they did not look too surprised. They had all seen breakthroughs before. What was so rare about advancing two levels in a row?

On the contrary, You Zishu, who had always had no expression on his face, revealed a hint of surprise. Only cultivators who had cultivated to the Moon Rank or above would know how difficult it was to advance to the Moon Rank. It was not comparable to advancing from the Sun Rank to the Moon Rank. The higher the level of a cultivator, the more difficult it was to advance.

Leng Mushi's advancement of two levels in a row above the Moon Rank was extremely rare even in the entire cultivation world, even in ancient records.

This was not the end. Before the alchemy furnace was opened, Leng Mushi's body once again burst out with incomparably powerful spiritual light. In the rising morning light, it dazzled the eyes of all the disciples. She had actually advanced another level.

"Three levels in a row!" The disciples of the Taichu Sect exclaimed in amazement and shouted loudly as if they were honored.

Xiao Mian stood closest to Leng Mushi. He looked at Leng Mushi intently. In the midst of the ruins, he did not close his eyes or cover them with his arms like the other disciples. His eyes were stung by the intense spiritual light, but he did not look away.

For a moment, he could not tell which was more dazzling, Leng Mushi or the rising sun in the sky.

He was staring at his sun with tears streaming down his face.

Leng Mushi directly advanced from the peak of the Moon Rank to the peak of the Moon Rank. She was only one step away from stepping into the ranks of the Sun Rank mighty figures.

After the three waves of spiritual energy erupted from her body, almost all of the Yinxi Demonic Birds that had covered the sky were stirred into dust by the spiritual light. The remaining small groups gathered together, and it was very easy for the disciples to clean them up.

The entire cave had collapsed. Fortunately, the disciples had opened up a barrier, so there were no casualties. The Dream Fox that had fascinated all the disciples had lost its voice in Leng Mushi's alchemy furnace.

She could have directly drained its demonic power and killed it. However, when it was down to its last tail, Leng Mushi opened her eyes and stopped.

The sound of the furnace opening was even more earth-shattering than the sound of the thunder that Bu Jin had attracted. However, Leng Mushi would not be blown away by the alchemy furnace again. She stood firmly in front of the alchemy furnace and poured the remaining demonic power and spiritual energy in the furnace into the pills that were emitting a red-gold light.

The pills were formed. There were a total of sixty-three of them.

A smile appeared on Leng Mushi's face. She opened her storage bag, and all the red-gold pills flew into her storage bag.

Finally, she reached out and grabbed the dying Dream Fox by the scruff of its neck. Its fur was burned close to its skin by the spiritual fire. She pulled it out from the bottom of the automatically shrinking alchemy furnace and chuckled, "So ugly, like a dead rat."

The Dream Fox still had some consciousness left. When it heard Leng Mushi's words, it kicked its legs and almost died from anger.

Its only remaining tail was tightly curled between its legs, like a stray dog that had been beaten and was afraid. It clamped its tail tightly and did not dare to make a sound. It trembled into a burnt ball.

"I'll spare your life since you didn't really eat any of the disciples." Leng Mushi said, "But I can't let you off for biting me."

Leng Mushi turned around and saw Leng Tianyin, who was being supported by Yi Tu and Xingzhou. Her face was pale and she looked dishevelled. She did not dare to look Leng Mushi in the eye. After waking up from the illusion, she clearly remembered what she had done. She had actually strangled her sister's neck and tried to kill her! Her sister would probably never forgive her…

Leng Tianyin was so scared that she was trembling. In a way, she was no different from the little thing that Leng Mushi was holding in her two fingers.

Leng Mushi walked to Leng Tianyin's side and glanced at her. Then, she threw the little fox to her.

"Didn't you want me to return it to you? Here!"

Leng Mushi threw the little gray rat-like Dream Fox to Leng Tianyin. Leng Tianyin subconsciously caught it, and then her tears flowed out like a broken dam.

She had worked so hard in her cultivation and swore that no matter what kind of danger she encountered in the future, she would never let her sister take risks again. However, in the end, the ability she had painstakingly cultivated was used against Leng Mushi. This made her wish that she could find a hole to hide in. She was so ashamed that her eyes almost bled.

"Sister… I'm sorry!" Leng Tianyin lowered her head and said, "It's all my fault. I… Ah!"

Leng Mushi did not want to waste her breath on her. The other disciples were cleaning up the remaining Yinxi Demonic Birds. Leng Mushi grabbed Leng Tianyin's pale finger, pulled out the bone knife from her boot, and stabbed it directly at Leng Tianyin's fingertip.

Blood gushed out instantly. Leng Mushi grabbed Leng Tianyin's hand and quickly drew a formation in the air to form a contract with her mount. Then, she pinched the head of the Dream Fox, which was trying to burrow into Leng Tianyin's arms, and directly poked it on the head.

The spiritual light flashed, and the runes disappeared. The contract was established.

Leng Tianyin's eyes quickly flashed with the original color of the Dream Fox's fur. The fur that had been burned off by the Dream Fox quickly grew back, and it turned back into a furry little thing. It burrowed into Leng Tianyin's arms.

"Since you like it so much, keep it." Leng Mushi said and kept the dagger. However, she looked down at the bone dagger and paused. She could not help but recall the scene she saw in the Dream Fox's illusion.

The bone sword pierced through Xiao Mian's chest, but he still looked at her with those gentle eyes.

Leng Mushi put away the dagger and searched for Xiao Mian in the crowd.

She did not know how to face him. If he was destined to disappear after the awakening of the Heavenly Demon, what would be the outcome between them?

She could extract souls of the dead, life force, and death energy. She should also be able to extract human souls. However, she did not know how to extract an intangible consciousness. Perhaps… she would not be able to keep him at all.

Xiao Mian was working with the other disciples to kill the last of the circling Yinxi Demonic Birds. The disciples had temporarily gained safety. However, in this current chaotic barrier, such a big commotion would soon attract other demonic beasts.

"We have to leave this place as soon as possible." You Zishu looked around and then stood on a high rock and said to everyone, "I tried to contact the outside world. The rescue disciples from the various sects are on their way. However, even if they arrive soon, it will take some time to open the formation from the outside."

You Zishu said with his expressionless face, "We will have to stay in this barrier for a few more days until the Demon Clan relic is opened from the outside. Only then will we be able to get out."

"However, in order to prevent the demonic beasts in this secret realm from going out and harming the human race, the rescue disciples may have to enter in batches. First, they will capture most of the demonic beasts that are easy to escape after the secret realm is opened, and then trap them with formations. We must also do our best to help, so that we can get out faster."

After You Zishu finished speaking, the disciples of the Huanxi Sect and the Zhenwu Temple also discussed among themselves. In the end, they decided to leave together. If their martial power was not dispersed, it would also help to protect the low-level new disciples.

After this decision was made, everyone quickly packed up. This time, they were heading towards the high-level training ground. After all, that was the closest exit that could be opened from the outside.

Now that the demonic beasts were running amok, it was impossible to tell where was safe…

As they were talking, the disciples suddenly felt the ground tremble. They turned their heads and saw a one-horned demonic beast, as tall as a house, running towards them--

The disciples of the three sects hurriedly formed a formation and retreated. However, they could not help but feel a deep sense of fear in their hearts. This thing was simply too big. At a glance, it was not a demonic beast that the initial-stage disciples could deal with.

Scales grew on its back. As it ran, half of the mountain trembled along with it. With one bump, it would probably be able to collapse the mountain. They did not have enough high-level disciples, and the one who had just advanced was an alchemist who was not good at fighting. What should they do!

You Zishu and the other two sect leaders took the lead. The Snow Spirit in his hand trembled slightly. The low-level disciples all hid behind a row of Dream Fox caves that had yet to completely collapse. They watched as the one-horned demonic beast was about to charge at them!

The protective formation was formed. It emitted the light red of the Huanxi Sect, the red gold of the Zhenwu Temple, and the pure white of the Taichu Sect. It formed a shield in midair. It was unknown if it would be able to withstand the one-horned demonic beast's forceful collision.

After all, they could not run. There were so many low-level disciples. If they ran, who knew how many would be trampled to death? If they really scattered, they might not survive in this secret realm.

Therefore, they could only try to resist.

However, just as the one-horned demonic beast was about to crash into the protective shield, an earth-shattering roar came from the bushes not far away. The disciples whose cultivation levels were too low were shaken until their ears buzzed and blood flowed out.

In the next moment, an earth-shattering tremor came. The disciples closed their eyes one after another. However, the scene of the two demonic beasts attacking together that they had imagined did not appear. Instead, the demonic beast that rushed out from the bushes charged straight at the one-horned demonic beast--

The two demonic beasts quickly fought each other. They rolled further and further away from their protective shield. As the disciples rejoiced in their narrow escape, they could not help but feel puzzled.

At this moment, the protective shield formed by the three sects together was withdrawn. Bu Jin stood up and explained to everyone, "The one that helped us chase away the one-horned demonic beast just now should be a puppet beast."

You Zishu nodded. "It should be. When I contacted the sect, the sect immediately sent people to rescue us. At the same time, they also turned all the puppet beasts controlled by the sect into our guardian beasts."

You Zishu said, "There are countless puppet beasts used by the various sects for trials in this Demon Clan relic. We are not fighting alone."

Upon hearing this, the panic in the disciples' hearts was greatly alleviated. If these puppet beasts all turned into guardian beasts, then it would not be impossible for them to cross the intermediate and high-level training grounds.

The sound of fighting gradually disappeared. The one-horned demonic beast ran away, and the puppet beast was seriously injured in the battle. It quickly disappeared not far away. The disciples packed up and set off again. They planned to cross the forest first and head towards the intermediate-level training ground.

"At least we can avoid the attacks of large demonic beasts and birds in the forest. However, we need to be extra careful." Ni Hanyan of the Huanxi Sect opened the incense bags of the Huanxi Sect disciples and sprinkled them on the disciples walking on the periphery. "These can dispel some snakes, insects, rats, and ants. However, they have the effect of confusing the mind. Don't think about your lovers."

The disciples could not help but laugh when they heard this. After all, they were really lucky. After entering the Demon Clan relic, they had encountered so many dangers, but they were all safe and sound.

After experiencing the Dream Fox incident, the Dream Stones even healed their injuries. It could be said that they were unharmed. It was impossible for them not to have a sense of luck. Even though they were still panicked and afraid, they were in the mood to laugh at a time like this.

"I thought that the Huanxi Sect only brought incense bags. I didn't expect them to have the effect of repelling snakes, insects, rats, and ants… But I can't help but think about my sweetheart. What will happen if I really think about them?"

Ni Hanyan smiled and said, "It's nothing much. At most, it'll be a little hard to bear. You've already experienced the Dream Fox's illusion. Are you still afraid of holding a spear?"

Another round of laughter broke out. Even Bu Jin revealed a helpless expression.

Shared adversity was indeed the best bridge to shorten the distance between people. The disciples of the three sects walked and chatted softly. They were really lucky, and it also eased the anxiety in their hearts. For a moment, it was as if they were from the same sect. Even the obvious discord between the Huanxi Sect and the Buddhist cultivators was drowned out by the fact that they had survived this disaster.

This forest led directly to the intermediate and high-level training grounds. On the side of the forest was a cliff.

Leng Mushi's cultivation was considered high-level among the disciples, but she was an alchemist and was not good at fighting. Moreover, she had just saved everyone's lives. Although none of the cultivators stepped forward to say anything, as the saying goes, great kindness did not need to be expressed verbally. They tacitly surrounded Leng Mushi in the middle of the group and walked with her, clearly protecting her.

Leng Mushi did not stand on ceremony. This was better. Being further away from Xiao Mian would also help her to sort out the chaotic thoughts in her heart.

If you found out that you liked someone, and had just made up your mind to fight for him even if it meant going against your so-called fate, you thought that you two were in love, but you found out that he was not even a human, without a soul or life force, just a wisp of remaining consciousness, what would you do?

No one would not be confused.

Especially since Leng Mushi knew that Xiao Mian was destined to awaken as a Heavenly Demon in this secret realm. In other words, the person she liked was about to disappear along with the awakening of the Heavenly Demon.

Leng Mushi did not know what to do. She even began to doubt the existence of the so-called laws, the so-called words, and the so-called fate.

Xiao Mian was at the periphery, helping the disciples to open up a path. He had the incense powder from the Huanxi Sect sprinkled on him. His gaze kept drifting towards Leng Mushi, but Leng Mushi did not meet his gaze. She did not know how to face him.

The more affectionate Xiao Mian was, the more he did not hide the confusion and deep love in his eyes because she suddenly ignored him, the more Leng Mushi wanted to escape.

She was protecting herself.

She was afraid of the end, afraid of losing, so she chose not to begin.

As long as it did not begin, she would not lose.

Leng Mushi thought ruthlessly, I am destined to not be able to keep a wisp of consciousness, why should I torture myself?

However, in this world, only love could not be hidden. Even though she was determined not to torture herself, she could not help but look at Xiao Mian. She could not help but look at his lonely and sad back when he did not get a response from her.

Leng Mushi could not help but feel a tearing pain in her heart. She thought that such a good person, why was he not even a human? He was not a demon either. Even if he was a demon, a Heavenly Demon who was destined to harm the human world, she would be willing to risk everything to accompany him on this journey.

However, he was as beautiful as an illusion, as fragile as a bubble. Under the calm sunlight, he was as beautiful as a rainbow. Once he encountered a storm, he would shatter into thin air. She could not even summon his soul or trace his reincarnation.

Therefore, as the disciples walked together, the heartbeats of the two people were not connected, but they were both pulling and stabbing in pain. Leng Mushi was because she had seen something she should not have seen, while Xiao Mian was not because of the incense powder from the Huanxi Sect, but because of the tearing pain in his heart.

The person he loved was not far away, but for some reason, she refused to look at him again. He could not help but think, could not help but feel emotional and sad. The tearing pain in his heart made it difficult for him to walk, and his face was pale.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong?" Yi Tu helped Xiao Mian, who was stumbling along while pressing on his heart, and asked, "Are you secretly injured?"

The corners of Xiao Mian's eyes were red. That was because he was trying his best to endure the pain in his heart. He did not deny it and nodded.

Yi Tu then said, "Then go to the inner circle. Xingzhou and I will take care of things here."

Xiao Mian was pushed to the inner circle and bumped into Leng Tianyin.

Leng Tianyin was holding the Dream Fox in her arms with a worried expression. Xiao Mian was the one who understood the Dream Fox the best among these people. When he saw the little thing in Leng Tianyin's arms that had recovered quite a bit, he knew the Dream Fox's condition.

Seeing the worry between Leng Tianyin's brows, Xiao Mian did not want her to misunderstand Leng Mushi, so he said, "The Dream Fox is born with the cultivation of the Sun Rank. Even if its demonic power is extracted and only one tail is left, it will still be very powerful after it recovers. Your sister formed a contract with you and it because she wants it to be able to block disasters for you in times of danger. It still has one tail left. After acknowledging you as its master, it will be able to sacrifice its life for you and save you from danger."

After Xiao Mian finished speaking, Leng Tianyin stared at him blankly. Tears streamed down her face as she choked. She did not know how to react.

She had treated her sister like that, yet her sister still did this for her. Leng Tianyin did not dare to look for Leng Mushi. She was afraid that she would lose her composure, so she just hugged the Dream Fox tightly and choked out a sob.

Yi Tu hurriedly came over to comfort her when he heard her. Xiao Mian turned to look at Leng Mushi.

Coincidentally, he met Leng Mushi's gaze this time. From Leng Mushi's point of view, Xiao Mian was speaking to Leng Tianyin gently, while Leng Tianyin looked pitiful with her pear-shaped tears.

Leng Mushi coldly looked away. Xiao Mian's heart skipped a beat. He knew that she had misunderstood, but then he was overjoyed. She still cared!

Xiao Mian squeezed into the middle of the disciples, wanting to explain to Leng Mushi. Just then, the group in front suddenly stopped. Gasps rang out as a disciple exclaimed, "I stepped on something… Oh my god, run… Run!"

"Don't panic, everyone. Form a formation with me--" You Zishu's Snow Spirit was suddenly infused with spiritual energy, and he quickly drew runes in the air.

However, before the formation could be formed, the thing that looked almost like a dead tree, so much so that at first glance, one could not tell if it was a tree trunk or something else, began to shake under the disciples' feet.

Following that, a gigantic object slowly appeared in the originally empty bushes.

It slowly raised its upper body in front of the disciples, casting a shadow that covered the sky and the sun.

It had five tails, sharp thorns on its back, and a dragon head growing on its long neck. It opened its mouth and let out a dragon roar. The low-level disciples were directly shaken by the sound of the dragon roar, causing the spiritual energy in their internal organs to go berserk, and they spat out blood--

"This is… the Five-Tailed Dragon that destroyed the barrier of the training ground!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone went crazy. They were in a mess, like ants in a pot that had exploded, scattering and fleeing--

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