Han Lian said, "What do you mean by this?"
Xian Feng followed up, "Do you recognize that evil weapon?"
They spoke in near unison, though their focuses were different.
Yunxi gently touched the storage bracelet on her wrist and began speaking slowly.
"I once read about this weapon in an ancient fragment. The blade is called Long Ya, one of the Three Great Evil Weapons of antiquity. It was once wielded by the Evil God themselves. I don't know why it was sealed inside the Shanhe Scroll.
Earlier, I asked Xian Feng Daoyou about the origins of the Shanhe Scroll. From what you told me, I suspect it was forged after the great war between righteous and evil forces, meant to seal this weapon and the evil cultivators imprisoned with it.
To keep Long Ya and the sealed evil cultivators suppressed, the Shanhe Scroll expended tremendous power. Over time, its grade declined, and somehow it ended up in Weiyu Realm, eventually becoming the treasured heirloom of Huaxian Gate."
Xian Feng nodded in agreement with her deduction, but Han Lian interjected,
"Ran Xi Daoyou's reasoning makes sense, and it matches our current situation. But if that weapon is trying to break free, why would it help us? Isn't that contradictory?"
"You're right, Han Lian Daoyou," Yunxi admitted. "I didn't realize it at first. But after Yun Chen Fózǐ came to find me, I connected all the pieces and uncovered the true purpose behind the evil cultivators' scheme."
Han Lian's expression grew grave. "To release the evil weapon Long Ya."
"Yes."
Yunxi confirmed it, then continued,
"When we were first drawn into the Shanhe Scroll, I thought the evil cultivators' goal was simply to kill us, weakening the righteous sects. But after all the Nascent Soul cultivators were sent into this sealed hall, I realized their plan was bigger. They not only wanted us dead, they wanted to use us to release the evil souls sealed here.
They trapped us in this dilemma: if we wanted to survive, we'd have to break the seals and release the evil souls. If we refused, we'd have to defend this place until death.
But when Xian Yao was transported here with the last group, she brought us news: the Shanhe Scroll's artifact spirit has not been completely controlled, and the Ancestors outside are fighting hard to save us. They're trying to sever the evil cultivators' control over the scroll. We just need to hold on.
While trapped here, our only option was to keep fighting the evil souls, holding out until Huaxian Gate's Ancestors regained control of the Shanhe Scroll.
But even if they succeed, escaping this sealed place will still require killing every evil soul. With no evil souls left to suppress, the seal will release us naturally, and only then will we have a chance at survival.
Otherwise, even if the Ancestors control the scroll, they won't dare forcibly break the seal from outside. If they do, the remaining evil souls will fight desperately to escape.
The evil cultivators used this logic against us. We became the key to releasing Long Ya. We're killing evil souls, and Long Ya is feeding on their essence to recover. It manipulates minds and sets us up to clear its obstacles. Once we've destroyed every evil soul here, whoever survives will inevitably carry Long Ya out."
After Yunxi laid out her deduction, she turned her gaze to the two cultivators, both of whom were deep in thought.
Though neither wanted to admit it, the evil cultivators' plan was cunning. It not only ensnared them, but also aimed to unleash Long Ya. And if they weren't strong enough, more evil souls might be freed in the process.
The Ancestors of the Five Regions faced a trap in plain sight. Saving them meant breaking the seal from outside, essentially freeing Long Ya and the evil souls. But if they did nothing, they'd have to watch their sect's elite disciples die, leaving Weiyu Realm weaker and vulnerable in the ongoing war against evil cultivators, where high-level experts were critical.
Han Lian clenched her fists and finally said coldly,
"Despicable."
Xian Feng frowned. "Ran Xi Daoyou, earlier you said Long Ya would help us. How?"
"Long Ya wants freedom and to regain its peak strength. It needs to devour these evil souls, but those souls, sealed for so long, won't willingly submit to being consumed. We're the perfect targets for Long Ya to use as a shield.
If it wanted us all dead, it could have sent Divine Transformation–level evil souls from the start. Instead, it has awakened them gradually, letting us adjust, forcing us to fight, and pushing us to advance."
The elegance in Xian Feng's expression darkened, and he exhaled heavily.
"If your analysis is right, Ran Xi Daoyou, the more evil souls we kill, the stronger Long Ya grows. The stronger it becomes, the easier it will be for it to escape.
You said Long Ya is an evil weapon skilled at manipulating hearts. If it corrupts even one of us, it'll still escape this scroll. From start to finish, we've been helping it. In that case, why not take it down with us and prevent Weiyu Realm from suffering?"
Han Lian said nothing, but her firm gaze revealed she shared his thoughts.
Yunxi sighed. "No one wants to die if there's a choice. We've already lost nearly half our people. Who knows if we'll all perish before the evil souls are exterminated?
But I refuse to accept this fate. I know you feel the same. We won't let our paths end here. We won't let the evil cultivators' scheme succeed.
My greatest flaw is that I never take a loss. They dared to trap me here, so I'll make them pay. To tell you the truth, I have a way to deal with Long Ya, but I'll need your cooperation. It's too soon to give up."
Xian Feng and Han Lian exchanged a glance, then fixed their eyes on her face, trying to see if she was bluffing.
Yunxi waved her hand dismissively. "Rest assured. I keep my word."
"Ran Xi Daoyou, could you share a little more? If something happens to you, we'll need to be ready," Xian Feng asked cautiously.
Yunxi shook her head. "Some truths can't be spoken here. Don't forget, we're standing in the enemy's stronghold."
Han Lian's eyes gleamed. "Very well, I won't ask. Tell us what to do when the time comes."
"When the time is right, you'll know," Yunxi replied.
Even she didn't fully know yet, so she left her words vague.
Just then, demonic energy surged from the southern region. Someone was breaking through. Before the disturbance settled, Buddha's radiance lit up the eastern region as another cultivator advanced.
At the same time, more evil souls emerged in the vast hall. Leading them was yet another Divine Transformation–level evil soul, and this one clutched Long Ya in its hand.