Chapter 1290: Seeing Dao-Dao Again

The first time Yun Ji encountered the Holy Rakshasa, she had nearly lost her life. She had been beaten into fleeing underground in panic and had not seen how Niu Youdao later subdued the Holy Rakshasa.

This time, she had come purely because she trusted Niu Youdao. And now that her cultivation had broken through into the Nascent Soul Realm, she had finally dared to confront the Holy Rakshasa head-on.

But once they actually exchanged blows, she discovered that even as a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, there was still a considerable gap between her and the Holy Rakshasa.

Whether in attack speed or striking power, she was inferior.

After only a short clash, she already felt unable to endure it and had been wounded.

And the layer of hard armor covering the Holy Rakshasa's body was a natural defense. The slightest contact made it obvious that blades and spears would struggle to penetrate it.

Yun Ji knew perfectly well that she could not keep forcing herself to hold on.

If she did, one mistake would cost her life.

How could she continue taking that risk?

The fact that she had not already turned and fled was good enough.

Zhao Xiongge, who had withdrawn to one side, heard her shout and looked toward Niu Youdao on the other side.

Niu Youdao pulled a face.

He had never truly seen what real Nascent Soul-level strength looked like before.

He had wanted to use this opportunity to evaluate Yun Ji's power after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and, at the same time, estimate the Holy Rakshasa's strength.

He had intended to watch for a little longer.

Who could have expected Yun Ji to reach her limit this quickly?

That left him uncertain whether the Holy Rakshasa was simply too powerful or whether Yun Ji, as a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, was still too weak.

Looking at Yun Ji now, however, he could no longer remain on the sidelines.

He flashed forward and arrived beside her like a streak of smoke.

"Draw her down to the ground."

"If she attacks toward the earth, the force I have to absorb on the ground may be too much for me."

"The moment I intervene, you withdraw immediately."

"Do not attack again under any circumstances."

After giving the warning, Niu Youdao rapidly backed away.

Seeing that he truly dared step forward himself, Yun Ji relaxed slightly.

At least now she knew he had not been deceiving her.

Before either of them could do anything more, silver light flashed in the sky.

The Holy Rakshasa plunged down like lightning and attacked Yun Ji again.

With Niu Youdao's words giving her a plan, Yun Ji knew what to do.

She stopped trying to clash head-on.

Instead, she flashed rapidly close to the ground, retreating at high speed while defending with all her strength, drawing the Holy Rakshasa into circling after her.

Niu Youdao stood at the center of the circle traced by the two women.

His sword was already drawn.

He waited for the right moment.

Then he suddenly cut across their path and threw himself into the point where the two battling figures were about to pass.

Whoosh!

Yun Ji streaked past him like a phantom.

Seeing another person suddenly block her way, the Holy Rakshasa swept one claw at him without hesitation.

Niu Youdao, every nerve stretched taut, thrust his sword out with both palms braced against it.

Clang!

One claw struck the blade.

"Puh!"

Niu Youdao sprayed blood and was blasted away like a meteor.

He flew dozens of zhang before crashing down and rolling across the ground.

The sword in his hands was knocked free as well, turning into a streak of silver light as it spun away.

Yun Ji, already retreating rapidly, nearly stared her eyes out.

She very much wanted to ask:

You said you could stop her?

In her hands you were no sturdier than a scrap of paper.

This was your method?

Had he gone insane?

"..."

Zhao Xiongge was equally dumbfounded.

He had exactly the same doubts.

"Puh..."

After landing facedown, Niu Youdao coughed out another mouthful of blood.

His ears rang without stop.

He shook his head hard and forcibly circulated magic to steady the double images swimming across his vision.

Only then did he discover that the webbing between thumb and forefinger on both hands had split open.

The wounds were deep.

Flesh had torn apart.

Blood ran freely.

The corners of his mouth were equally drenched in blood.

He braced both hands against the ground and struggled to rise.

His hands trembled.

His legs shook without stop.

His whole skeleton felt as though it might come apart.

The sensation was miserable.

Niu Youdao smiled bitterly.

The force of that attack had been too savage, and the speed too fast.

With his current cultivation and the speed at which he could circulate it, even using the Qiankun Art's method of dissipating force could not completely neutralize the impact.

The small amount of power that remained after the dissipation was still enough to flatten him.

Worse, these injuries seemed even more serious than when the Holy Rakshasa had struck him the first time years ago.

How could that be?

He had originally believed his cultivation was far higher than back then, so handling her attack should have been easier.

He quickly understood.

The Holy Rakshasa had been fighting Yun Ji without restraint and attacking at full speed.

He had suddenly inserted himself into the middle of that assault.

The result was naturally different from the single strike she had given him years ago.

He had even deliberately avoided taking one of her attacks straight into the ground, afraid the collision with the earth would worsen the damage.

In the end, he had still managed to run headfirst into suffering.

"What kind of damned fate is this..."

Niu Youdao muttered mockingly to himself as he forced his body upright.

He wasn't dead?

Zhao Xiongge let out a breath.

Yun Ji was even more astonished.

She knew how much power had been contained in the Holy Rakshasa's strike.

No Golden Core cultivator should have been able to withstand it.

Yet Niu Youdao had.

She found it almost unbelievable.

What shocked the two of them even more was that after landing that blow, the Holy Rakshasa suddenly stopped.

She raised the hand that had struck Niu Youdao and stared at it.

Confusion slowly appeared on her face.

Then she turned.

Little by little, she looked toward Niu Youdao.

Seeing the Holy Rakshasa take the initiative to focus on him, Yun Ji's heart tightened.

Niu Youdao had already been injured this badly.

How could he withstand another attack?

For a moment, she did not know whether she should rush over and save him.

Even unburdened, she was already struggling to endure.

If she had to bring Niu Youdao along as well, the two of them might both die here.

She hesitated.

Clang!

Zhao Xiongge drew his sword.

He shouted at Yun Ji, "Hold her off! I'll take him away first. Then you escape!"

"Good!"

Yun Ji had just agreed when Niu Youdao suddenly shouted, "Don't move! Neither of you move!"

He stared fixedly at the Holy Rakshasa's expression.

Again he warned them.

"Don't move. Whatever you do, don't move!"

The reaction he was seeing from the Holy Rakshasa was exactly the result he wanted.

They absolutely could not provoke her again.

If those two acted recklessly and enraged the Holy Rakshasa once more, everything would be ruined.

His current physical condition could not survive a second strike.

Not only would all their efforts be wasted, but the three of them might lose their lives here.

Yun Ji was strong, but the chance of her escaping from the Holy Rakshasa while carrying two burdens was not high.

Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji slowly widened their eyes in disbelief.

Instead of trying to escape, Niu Youdao actually began walking toward the Holy Rakshasa as though he had no idea what death meant.

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Blood also ran from all ten fingers.

His feet trembled as he walked.

He moved slowly, not daring to go too fast and startle her.

He forced a gentle smile onto his face, doing everything he could to appear harmless.

Drop after drop of blood fell behind him, leaving a trail across the ground.

"What are you doing?"

Zhao Xiongge finally could not hold back and called out.

Niu Youdao immediately raised one blood-soaked index finger to his lips.

He shook his head, signaling Zhao Xiongge to make no sound.

Then he turned and gave Yun Ji the same gesture.

Do not disturb her.

Whatever you do, do not disturb her.

"..."

Zhao Xiongge stared with wide eyes.

When he looked at the Holy Rakshasa again, he realized she was no longer raging as before.

She was standing quietly where she was.

He immediately understood.

Niu Youdao must truly have some method.

Yun Ji gradually realized the same thing.

At first, Niu Youdao staggered as he advanced.

But as the worst of his physical discomfort eased, his steps gradually steadied.

At last, he stopped directly before the Holy Rakshasa.

One man.

One demon.

Face-to-face at close range, staring at one another.

Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji's hearts truly rose into their throats.

They both understood perfectly well that if the Holy Rakshasa casually swept out one hand now, Niu Youdao would be dead.

Yet Niu Youdao kept the smile on his face.

Slowly, he lifted one hand.

Slowly, he pushed his palm forward, inviting the Holy Rakshasa to respond.

The Holy Rakshasa also slowly raised one hand.

She looked at her own claw.

Then she extended it and pressed her palm forward.

One demon's claw.

One man's blood-soaked palm.

Under Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji's watching eyes, the two slowly came together.

The instant their palms met, Niu Youdao circulated the Qiankun Art.

He sent its force into the Holy Rakshasa's body and began gradually helping her dissolve the aberrant demon qi within her.

A trace of comfort seemed to appear on the Holy Rakshasa's face.

One hand was connected now.

After observing her expression, Niu Youdao slowly raised his other blood-covered palm and extended it as well.

This time, the Holy Rakshasa cooperated readily.

She lifted her other claw and pressed it against his second palm.

One man and one demon stood together in silence.

Comfort spread across the Holy Rakshasa's face.

Slowly, she closed her eyes as though savoring the sensation.

Before long, Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji both saw it clearly.

The silver radiance across the Holy Rakshasa's wings was gradually dimming.

The wings themselves were slowly shrinking.

They continued to contract until they disappeared into the shoulder blades of her back.

The Holy Rakshasa's entire appearance was changing as well.

The silver armor-like bone covering her body seemed to soften.

The metallic sheen of her silver hair gradually faded.

Silver turned gray.

Gray slowly turned black.

The silver armored bone across her face softened and reshaped itself, gradually becoming the contours of a human face.

The claws on her hands and feet drew inward.

When the silver armor on her face had transformed into silver markings, and those markings gradually dimmed and disappeared beneath the skin, the Holy Rakshasa was gone.

In her place stood a graceful naked woman, not a thread covering her body.

Her skin was snow-white.

Her figure was delicate and shapely.

Long black hair floated around her, and her eyes remained closed beneath long lashes.

Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji stared, dumbfounded.

It was the first time either had witnessed this transformation.

The face was familiar.

Yin'er had returned.

A smile appeared on Niu Youdao's face as well.

After releasing her hands, he quickly untied and removed his outer robe.

With a flick, he draped it over Yin'er's naked body.

Carefully, he tied the sash for her, covering the exposed spring scenery.

The way he did it was like someone caring for a child who did not understand anything.

The sudden change in atmosphere was almost impossible to adjust to.

A moment ago she had been a vicious demon that could kill someone at the slightest disagreement.

In the blink of an eye, she had become a delicate young woman.

Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji both found the reversal difficult to process.

After tying the robe properly, Niu Youdao looked up.

Only then did he discover that Yin'er had opened her eyes at some point.

Those dark, clear eyes contained none of the complexity of an adult.

She was simply looking at him with innocent curiosity.

Niu Youdao tried asking, "Yin'er, do you still recognize me?"

Yin'er seemed to be struggling to remember.

Then, in a soft, delicate voice, she tentatively called out:

"Dao-Dao..."

Even she seemed uncertain.

Niu Youdao could tell.

She still had an impression of him, but she barely remembered who he was.

He remembered clearly that he had sent Yin'er back into the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm before entering the Tiandu Secret Realm.

Only a few years had passed.

And she had already almost forgotten him?

That made something else clear to him.

Changing from human to demon, and then from demon back into human, damaged Yin'er's memories.

The longer she remained in demon form, the more of her human memories she probably lost.

For example, she had already forgotten Shang Song and his wife.

No wonder she always seemed like a child who could never grow up.

At that thought, Niu Youdao smiled.

Forgetting was good.

Some things were better forgotten.

Forget being sealed away for several hundred years.

Forget that he had sent her back into the Illusory Realm.

Forget every unhappy thing.

Perhaps then there would be no sorrow and no pain.

[End of Chapter 1290]