Chapter 823: Powerless to Resist

As the day when the Secret Realm exit would open drew nearer, some waited quietly, some grew anxious over the final outcome, and some still intended to make one last effort to influence it.

The forces of Han and Song had fled. Once Niu Youdao's side received the news sent over from Zijin Cave, the Four Seas group reacted immediately, heightening their vigilance and taking precautions against any unexpected approach. They had no intention of reaching the very end only to be clubbed from behind by Han and Song.

Wei and Qi jointly approached Yan, hoping the three states could cooperate to take first place. Their reasoning was that Jin held four shares' worth of Spirit Seeds, while Han and Song each held three.

Yan had little interest in joining hands with them. Zijin Cave remained perfectly composed, while Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain secretly rejoiced. As long as they seized what Jin had, Wei and Qi together would still possess only four shares. Even if those two joined forces, it would be useless.

Yan's greatest loss had been the hundred-odd people Chu Fengping sacrificed because of his greed. Overall, Yan had preserved its strength better than any other state.

Wei and Qi had each lost a large portion of their forces to Niu Youdao. In terms of both numbers and strength, neither was much better off than Yan. Yan therefore had little fear that the two would behave too recklessly. After all, as far as they knew, beyond the ancient forest there were still the Four Seas demons and monsters, Jin's surviving remnant, and the Han and Song forces that had fled. Logically, Wei and Qi would not dare fight until they suffered crippling losses and then stretch out their necks beneath someone else's blade.

Yan Baoru, meanwhile, remained with the people of Myriad Beasts Sect, Ling Sect, and Tianxing Sect, tormented by extreme anxiety. She often sat beneath a tree looking around restlessly, unable to settle her mind.

She absolutely could not let Niu Youdao learn that someone had secretly tipped the others off and accused him of colluding with the three neutral sects. Others might not know who had done it, but once Niu Youdao heard, he would certainly guess that it was her handiwork. Then she could forget about ever receiving the Spirit-Torment Pill's antidote again.

Things had already reached this point. One way or another, she absolutely could not allow Niu Youdao to leave alive. With the forces now gathered around him, once he got out, even approaching him would become difficult.

From the moment she decided to take revenge on Niu Youdao, she had prepared herself to perish together with him and bear the consequences of the Spirit-Torment Pill. If Niu Youdao escaped, then all the suffering she had endured would have been for nothing.

She was convinced that Myriad Beasts Sect, Ling Sect, and Tianxing Sect were colluding with Niu Youdao.

Under Xu Huo's repeated probing and provocation, and with the opening of the exit drawing ever nearer, Yan Baoru finally could not hold herself back any longer. Just as before, she secretly sent another message, this time to Yan, Wei, and Qi.

Jin, Han, and Song had refused to make trouble for the three neutral sects. She now placed her hopes on Yan, Wei, and Qi.

None of those factions originally intended to involve themselves in this matter. But after Yan Li stirred them up, they eventually took the scrap of cloth and went to the three neutral sects once more to demand an explanation.

The three neutral sects were baffled, then furious.

Twice in succession. It was impossible that two separate groups had independently arranged the same thing. There really did seem to be an insider on their side.

Naturally, the three neutral sects denied any collusion with Niu Youdao.

The parties that came demanding an explanation had only intended to ask about the matter. They had no real plan to do anything. Although they coveted that batch of Spirit Seeds as well, they also worried that someone might be deliberately sowing discord. After all, there was no evidence.

Who would have expected Yan Li to issue a warning in front of everyone?

"Niu Youdao killed quite a few of our people. If we verify that this really happened, don't blame us for showing no mercy!"

The others from Yan, Wei, and Qi looked at one another, discovering for the first time that Yan Li apparently had quite a temper.

Yan Baoru, crouched in one corner, had her eyes light up.

Ling Sect Elder Mei Jiukai was enraged. "Then I'd very much like to see exactly how you intend to show us no mercy!"

A figure suddenly flashed out and declared loudly, "I can prove it! Those three sects truly are colluding with Niu Youdao. I heard it with my own ears. Niu Youdao intends to have them carry his enormous quantity of Spirit Seeds out for him."

It was Yan Baoru.

Among the crowd, Xu Huo's expression became peculiar. The corner of Yan Li's mouth also curled strangely.

Ximen Qingkong and Wei Duo looked at each other, both wondering why Yan Baoru had somehow ended up at odds with Niu Youdao yet again.

Tianxing Sect Elder Wang Tiandi erupted in anger. "Yan Baoru! So you're the one who's been causing trouble both times!"

Yan Baoru had already thrown caution to the winds. She ignored him and pointed directly at Xu Huo. "Him! Niu Youdao corresponds with him directly by letter. I personally delivered one of those letters. Seize him. I can help you pry his mouth open. Then the whole truth will naturally be revealed to everyone!"

Every gaze immediately swung toward Xu Huo.

Some people among the three neutral sects became uncertain as well, because they had seen Xu Huo and Yan Baoru make contact several times.

The three sects were startled by the accusation. They naturally knew they were not colluding with Niu Youdao, so Yan Baoru had to be framing them. But then what was going on with Xu Huo?

Myriad Beasts Sect Elder Sun Changhao shouted, "Xu Huo, explain yourself!"

Xu Huo wore a stunned expression. "Martial Uncle, this woman is framing me! She sought me out because we'd known each other before. She was worried she might encounter danger when leaving the Secret Realm and hoped to borrow the protection of our three sects through me. How did that turn into this disciple colluding with Niu Youdao?"

Then he cupped his hands and said, "This disciple failed to resist her temptation. Behind everyone's backs, I've already slept with her several times. This disciple is willing to accept punishment!"

What?

He had slept with Yan Baoru?

The crowd stared in astonishment.

Ximen Qingkong and Wei Duo looked at each other yet again.

Yan Baoru nearly choked to death on the spot. She shouted furiously, "You're talking nonsense!"

Xu Huo loudly defended himself. "This disciple is not talking nonsense! There's an inconspicuous red mole on her chest. If you don't believe me, have her pull down the clothes over her chest and verify it!"

Quite a few expressions turned strange, some almost spectacular. Eyes drifted toward Yan Baoru's chest as though everyone wanted to verify the claim personally.

"You... You and Niu Youdao joined forces to trap me!" Yan Baoru shouted in rage, overwhelmed with shame and fury. At that moment, she felt as though she had walked into some kind of trap.

She knew that when Niu Youdao had reduced her clothes to tatters and tugged at her collar, he might have seen the mole on her chest.

But how could Xu Huo know about it?

Obviously Niu Youdao had told him.

Why would Niu Youdao tell Xu Huo something like that?

She realized it.

This was a trap!

Yet she could not understand. If Niu Youdao had wanted to harm her, he could have done so long ago. Why go through all these circles?

She suddenly felt that there was no way for her to explain herself clearly.

Xu Huo cursed, "Slut! You dared do it, so why don't you dare admit it? When you offered me your tenderness before, you whispered all kinds of sweet words. So you were deliberately seducing me. You were deliberately setting me up! If you've got the nerve, take off your clothes and let everyone verify it!"

"You... shameless!" Yan Baoru's face flushed scarlet.

How could she possibly pull down the clothes over her chest and let everyone enjoy the view? Where would that leave her pride and dignity?

If there had been no red mole there, that would have been one thing. The problem was that there really was. Taking off her clothes would only make her even less able to explain herself.

"Hahaha!" Yan Li suddenly threw back his head and laughed loudly. Afterward, he cupped his hands toward the leaders of the three sects. "Brother Sun, Brother Mei, Brother Wang, don't be angry! What this old man said just now was only a jest. I merely found it strange that someone was secretly trying to sow discord, so I deliberately used provocative words. And now the petty villain hiding behind the curtain has finally shown herself. How could we let her go?"

Sun Changhao's face turned cold. He waved a broad hand. "Seize her!"

Yan Baoru was filled with grief and fury. How could she possibly allow herself to be captured without resistance?

As far as the three neutral sects were concerned, this woman had repeatedly stirred trouble and was deliberately trying to get their people killed. How could they let her off?

In an instant, a fierce battle erupted.

Experts from all three sects joined forces to surround and capture her.

Explosions thundered in rapid succession as earth and stone flew apart. The fight surged from the ground into the trees, then from the trees into the air.

Beneath the stars of the night sky, Yan Baoru suddenly swept both arms outward.

The surrounding air seemed to congeal and freeze, suppressing the reaction speed of everyone attacking her. Yan Baoru herself shot away at tremendous speed.

Anyone who tried to block her on the way was either knocked aside or suppressed by her spiritual power.

If she had stayed and fought head-on, she could never have defeated so many opponents working together. But when it came to breaking away and fleeing for her life, no one present could stop her.

In the end, the entire group chasing her could do nothing but watch as she vanished into the darkness and escaped.

"Worthy of the expert ranked second on the Golden Core Ranking!" Yan Li, who had joined the pursuit for a while, stood atop a treetop and clicked his tongue in admiration.

By now he had more or less understood Niu Youdao's purpose.

Earlier, he had wondered why Niu Youdao was making matters so complicated. If he wanted to deal with this woman, why not simply stir up a group of people and kill her directly? Why waste so many words in front of the three neutral sects?

Now Yan Li understood.

Niu Youdao was thorough.

Whether they succeeded in killing her here or not, he had first forced the woman onto a road of death.

This powerless, unsupported woman had now openly offended Myriad Beasts Sect, Ling Sect, and Tianxing Sect. Even if she left the Secret Realm alive, those three colossal powers would not let her go. Once outside, she would find it difficult to move a single step.

This was what killing without spilling blood truly looked like.

Yan Li sighed inwardly.

The others who gradually stopped pursuing her were also left with mixed feelings. So many people had joined forces against her, yet the woman had still escaped. The cultivator ranked second on the Golden Core Ranking truly lived up to her name.

...

Under the cover of darkness, Yan Baoru fled far away before finally stopping.

She hid within the crown of a great tree and looked up through the gaps in the leaves at the starlight overhead.

Slowly, she leaned against the trunk, drew up her knees, and sat on a branch with both arms wrapped around her legs.

Tears gathered in her eyes.

Then they spilled down her cheeks.

Gradually, she buried her face between her knees and quietly sobbed.

She hated him so much.

She could not understand.

Niu Youdao clearly could have killed her. Why had he done this instead? Why did he insist on playing with her like a monkey?

A demon!

Ever since the moment she tore away all pretense and faced Niu Youdao directly, she had felt as though she had encountered a demon, as though she had fallen into a nightmare.

The consequences of the Spirit-Torment Pill weighed heavily on her heart.

Now she had openly offended three colossal powers besides.

What was she supposed to do from now on?

And even that was not all.

Niu Youdao had obviously done this deliberately. He had deliberately ruined her reputation. Deliberately turned her into a laughingstock beneath Heaven.

She felt as though the pride she had once possessed had been torn to pieces beyond repair.

Again and again, the scenes replayed in her mind.

Niu Youdao gripping her hair and shoving her head into the ant nest.

That gentle yet eerie smile as he idly stroked her fair neck.

Xu Huo brazenly lying as he accused her.

Yan Li throwing back his head and laughing.

One scene after another clung to her mind and would not leave, repeating endlessly.

Her present state of mind was like the environment surrounding her now.

Branches and leaves enclosed her from every side. She felt as though she too had been caught inside a vast net, tangled so tightly she could not break free.

Whether she wanted to perish together with him or fight until both fish and net were ruined, she had the will but not the strength.

She possessed a body full of cultivation, yet was powerless to resist.

She discovered that the pride she once possessed was nothing but a joke, something others could abuse, trample, and tear apart at will.

What pride did she have left now?

Her heart held only uncertainty, confusion about the future, and the desolation of having no one to rely on.

What she did not understand was that, as far as Niu Youdao was concerned, the two of them had originally possessed neither grievance nor enmity. She had come to kill him anyway. He had already given her a chance, yet she still insisted on jumping out and courting death.

Since that was how she wanted it, naturally Niu Youdao would crush her without mercy.

[End of Chapter 823]