Finding Jiang Qing in the tower meant Qin Yi had already completed one of his two missions.
Jiang Qing was a handsome and refined young man with a resolute yet gentle character and a deep sense of loyalty. In any novel, he would be the quintessential protagonist, brimming with positive energy.
Gifted, virtuous, and a model of uprightness, he constantly reminded himself to uphold the values of a Mount Shu disciple in his daily life.
Even breaking a minor Mount Shu rule had caused Jiang Qing immense inner turmoil and hesitation. Now, having defied the Sect Lord's orders to enter the Demon Prison Tower for Yue Rouxia, he felt a deep sense of regret. In the heat of the moment, he hadn't fully grasped the gravity of his actions, but now, looking back, his heart ached.
"Senior Martial Uncle, Mount Shu..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Qing let out a long, complex sigh.
"I can't face Mount Shu."
Yue Rouxia, standing beside him, tightened her grip on Jiang Qing's right hand, her eyes filled with worry.
"If you can't face Mount Shu, then this Senior Martial Uncle of yours might as well commit suicide before the ancestral tablets of Mount Shu."
Qin Yi smiled faintly, then changed the subject.
"Actually, before entering the Demon Prison Tower, I had a fight with Chang Hao."
"That stubborn old fool wouldn't have repented unless I had overwhelmed him with my power."
Jiang Qing's expression was one of astonishment. "But... it was clearly our fault, wasn't it? Mine, Rouxia's, and yours, Senior Martial Uncle."
He trailed off, unable to continue.
Though Jiang Qing didn't distinguish between humans and demons in his heart, he was still influenced by the prevailing societal views. He knew what they had done was wrong and felt guilty about it. But looking at his Senior Martial Uncle's expression, Jiang Qing saw no trace of remorse.
"In this world, love is the only force that can transcend racial boundaries."
"That's the natural order. Why dwell on it?"
"Just because it's Mount Shu, does that make it right? Does that make the world right?"
"Do what you believe is right, and that's enough!"
Qin Yi spoke indifferently, his words widening Jiang Qing's eyes.
After a few breaths, Jiang Qing finally exhaled, stunned and admiring Qin Yi's bold thinking.
Such transcendent thoughts and ideas would inevitably defy the world's norms and be rejected by society. How many people in this world possess the courage to stand against the world?
In all his years, Jiang Qing had only ever known one person who dared to do so: his senior martial uncle.
"Jiang Qing, I know you feel guilty about Mount Shu."
Qin Yi paused, his gaze sharpening.
"Neither you nor I can stay here any longer."
Jiang Qing's eyes dimmed at these words. With things having come to this, he had no face left to remain on Mount Shu.
"To be honest, Senior Martial Uncle has already established a new sect outside, called the Magnificent Qin Faction!"
"If you're interested, you can go with Senior Martial Uncle."
Qin Yi spoke directly, leaving Jiang Qing stunned.
"Senior Martial Uncle, you're actually the Sect Lord of a sect?"
Nodding, Qin Yi replied somewhat vaguely, "I've had some extraordinary encounters outside these past few years."
Jiang Qing pondered this. He had already sensed something different in Qin Yi's aura. The shared origin of Mount Shu made it easy to detect, but Qin Yi's aura was mixed with something else.
"Senior Martial Uncle has gone to such lengths for my sake, Jiang Qing has no way to repay you. In the future, I'll join you in living a carefree life!"
With a long sigh, Jiang Qing spoke softly.
"Excellent!"
Qin Yi's face lit up with joy as he nodded.
Jiang Qing was undoubtedly a formidable expert, evenly matched with Chang Hao in battle. Qin Yi knew he wouldn't stand a chance against her either.
Hailed as the top Mount Shu successor after Chang Hao, Jiang Qing's talent was undeniable. Yet it was the word "love" that had left the Mount Shu elders sighing in regret, unable to intervene.
"I intend to capture some Demon Spirits and demon beasts to serve as guardian beasts for my Magnificent Qin Faction. Will you lend me a hand?"
Now that he had been honest with Jiang Qing, Qin Yi spoke directly.
She naturally agreed, and the two began their journey through the Demon Prison Tower.
The Demon Prison Tower housed many powerful Demon Spirits. Under the combined might of Qin Yi and Jiang Qing, the Demons trembled at their approach, completely unwilling to show themselves.
By the time they reached the third floor, the pair had captured only a dozen or so Demons, leaving Qin Yi to shake his head inwardly.
Further down, as they descended to the second floor, all three companions' pupils narrowed slightly.
Here, they were nearing the bottom of the Demon Prison Tower. The Demon Transformation Water grew thicker, affecting even their cultivation and aura. The suppression on Demon Spirits was naturally even greater. The Demons on this floor were all Great Demons, some having lived for thousands of years. Even after their bodies had been shattered, leaving only their Demon Spirits, they remained formidable. However, if they concealed themselves and didn't reveal their presence, the trio would be completely unaware of their existence.
Cautiously advancing, they reached the entrance to the first floor. Qin Yi and Jiang Qing exchanged a glance, a hint of helplessness in their eyes.
They hadn't encountered a single Demon. This was rather strange.
In this layer, they saw the skeletal remains of Demons that had endured for hundreds or even thousands of years without decaying, remaining eternally preserved. Despite the passage of eons, a formidable aura still emanated from them.
Such Demons must have been incredibly powerful in their lifetimes. After careful comparison, they solemnly concluded that even the current Mount Shu would be utterly outmatched by such a creature.
It was truly unimaginable how Mount Shu had managed to seal such a formidable Demon within the Demon Prison Tower in the distant past.
Upon entering the first layer, the space became relatively more confined. Seven towering Dragon Pillars stood like pillars supporting the heavens, their Dragon Bodies coiled around them, radiating a vast and oppressive aura.
"Mount Shu disciples, why have you come here?"
As the three of them gazed up at the seven Dragon Pillars, a deep, rumbling voice suddenly echoed from the void.
Following the voice, a burly man with three heads, six arms, a fierce expression, and a bare chest materialized in the air.
Qin Yi and Jiang Qing looked up at the man, whose skin was dark and whose entire body radiated immense power, their eyes narrowing.
They both sensed a terrifying sense of power emanating from him.
"Are you Shuming?"
Qin Yi suddenly asked, "Are you Shuming?"
The three-headed, six-armed giant paused, then sneered. "I didn't expect you to recognize me!"
"But I am now the Prison-Suppressing Bright King, a deity guarding the Demon Prison Tower. Unless you have business here, leave immediately, considering you are disciples of Mount Shu!"
Qin Yi's eyes flashed. Having descended from the ninth floor to the first, his primary concern was how to escape. Shuming's appearance was a stroke of luck—he must know a way out.
"Since we were once fellow disciples of Mount Shu, please send us out."
Jiang Qing stood silently nearby, his eyes flickering. He sensed a shared Mount Shu origin in the Prison-Suppressing Bright King's aura.
"Of course I can send you out. This Bright King doesn't want to quarrel with fellow disciples." Shuming chuckled, his face taking on an eerie expression.
"Then stop wasting time and get us out quickly. Surely our presence here isn't what you want, is it?"
"Shuming!" Qin Yi sneered, his gaze piercing through Shuming's facade.
The giant froze, then coldly snorted and waved his hand. A shimmering teleportation array materialized before them.
"Get out of here!"
(End Of This Chapter)
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