Between the stone hills, flames erupted, licking the sky. The ground began to shake vigorously. Almost instinctively, Lonemoon conjured a transparent isolation array in an instant to cover a certain someone who was sleeping on the ground.

　　The next moment, the spirit stones began to roll down the hills, causing cracking sounds to be heard all around them. Something huge burst out of the ground, covered in burning flames just like a volcano. The entire sky seemed to be covered in smoke. The thing opened its mouth and once again they heard a loud roar which seemed to shake the heavens and the earth.

　　Lonemoon and Yi Qing subconsciously glanced at the person inside the array and heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he reacted quickly to set up the isolation array. The noise did not permeate through the array and she was still sleeping!

　　“What kind of beast is this?” Yi Qing frowned. He had never seen a beast like that – so big that he could not clearly make out its features. The flames covering its body did not make things easier. It was obvious they were no ordinary flames. The moment the beast appeared, everything around it was reduced to ash. Even their immortal bodies, from such a great distance, could feel a burning sensation.

　　“No, this isn’t a beast!” Lonemoon lowered his voice, looking more confused. He pointed toward the big thing which had already scorched half of the sky. “Quick, look inside the fire!”

　　Yi Qing used his divine perception to focus on inside the fire. He saw that the deviant flames covered layers and layers of what looked like metal armour. There were several talismans flashing inside the fire together with what looked like sequins.

　　“This…” Calling it a weapon cuts it closer than calling it a spirit beast! But the sound they heard did sound like it came from a beast. Unless…

　　Yi Qing started when he suddenly understood what was happening. He shouted, “It’s a Weapon Spirit!”

　　The weapon already formed sentience! It was hard enough for all the living creatures in the world to gain sentience – but this weapon was clearly a non-living thing. Hard to believe that it had gained sentience! This proved that it was no ordinary weapon to begin with- likely that it is a divine weapon of some sort.

　　“Why did we meet this so soon? It’s a Myriad Sword Case!” Xun Shu raised his hands and conjured a defensive array to protect the group from the raging fire. Then, he continued, “This is the weapon spirit that protects this land. Its body itself is a divine weapon. This fire is known as Ninth-Darkness Ardent Flames. Even divine beings cannot fend themselves against if, much less immortal beings. Ordinary water-elemental immortal techniques are useless against it. All we can do is try our best to attack it. Inside, it even has…”

　　Before he could finish speaking, the sound of clanking metal filled the air. Hundreds and thousands of immortal swords shot out of the enormous weapon which was engulfed in flames. Each one of the swords carried with it strong sword Qi. Then, the swords turned to point at the small group and flew toward them. In seconds, the sky seemed to be covered by swords.

　　The Million-Sword Array! And with such rich immortal Qi at that! Each one of those swords were real!

　　Yi Qing’s face fell and immediately he began to activate all the immortal Qi in his body. He turned around and instructed Lonemoon, “Watch out for Master!” Then, he flew up into the air, forming a dragon with his sword Qi which charged toward the swords.

　　“Noted!” The corner of Lonemoon’s mouth twitched as he retreated several steps and deflected the swords which Yi Qing’s dragon let by using arrays and his own sword. He did not let a single one touch the isolation array which contained Shen Ying.

　　“Wait! What are you two doing?” Xun Shu anxiously looked at the two of them. “What juncture are we at? You’re still trying to keep her from waking up! This is a divine weapon spirit, not some ordinary sword Qi you can easily find outside. You won’t be able to fight against it!” Divine weapons were such formidable weapons by themselves; what’s more, this divine weapon had sentience. Even if ten Immortal Emperors came to their aid, they might not make it. “We should quickly wake Shen Ying up! Maybe we can win-”

　　As he spoke, he turned around and headed straight for the isolation array.

　　“No!” Lonemoon went pale immediately. With a wave of his sword, a long line of spirit swords appeared beside him. They flew toward Xun Shu and dragged him back. Lonemoon spoke in a voice stricter than ever before. “Trust me, the consequences of waking her up are far scarier than having to face a weapon spirit!”

　　“…”

　　What the hell?

　　Xun Shu paused. He just started to say something when the ground beneath his feet shook violently. Immortal swords suddenly shot out from the ground toward the isolation array behind them.

　　Oh no!

　　Lonemoon’s heart jumped. He tried to deflect the swords but it was too late. All he could do was watch as the immortal swords which emerged from the ground broke through the isolation array that he had earlier set up.

　　That was not the end of it. The great big weapon spirit suddenly spat out a strong burst of flames, forcing Yi Qing to retreat. Then, it bent its body toward the group, opening its mouth and biting down toward them.

　　“Master!” Yi Qing shouted in horror.

　　He watched as the big weapon spirit tore out the piece of land on which Shen Ying was sleeping and swallowed it with a loud roar. A scorched pit remained where Shen Ying had been lying down.

　　Roar!

　　The loud roar once again tore through the night.

　　Xun Shu: “…”

　　She was eat… eaten?!

　　(⊙_⊙)

　　Yi Qing and Lonemoon were extremely pale. They stood rooted to the ground in a daze.

　　“I said… to wake her up!” Xun Shu looked at the two of them with pity. “Otherwise, she wouldn’t-”

　　“Run!” Lonemoon shouted before Xun Shu could complete his sentence. Immediately, Lonemoon turned around and began to sprint.

　　At that moment, Yi Qing summoned his flying sword and mounted it, prepared to make his escape. With a loud zip, he disappeared.

　　“…”

　　Huh?

　　What was going on? Weren’t they sad that their companion just died? Why did they run?

　　Xun Shu’s face twisted in confusion. He had no time to react when the weapon spirit in front of him began to shake violently. There was a series of explosions, then the sound of a tower collapsing. The enormous divine weapon came crashing down onto the ground in pieces. All the ground around them was covered in ruined metal and the immortal swords which were in the air also fell down onto the ground atop the ruined metal.

　　The divine weapon on the floor split right open from the core, and golden light spilled out of it. In the center of the golden light, one person walked out. Golden light mixed with the angry voice of that person in the air.

　　“What’s with the noise!”

　　Xun Shu felt something overpowering fly toward him, suppressing him so that he could hardly breathe.

　　The killing… killing intent is so strong!

　　He felt paralysed by fear as his body became ice-cold. In his head, only one word remained: Death!

　　Suddenly, Yi Qing’s and Lonemoon’s reactions made sense. He wished he followed them.

　　“Run!” He activated all the immortal strength he had in his body to run in the direction that the two men disappeared in. The Young Emperor exhausted all his power to run as quickly as the other two had before.

　　He just wished he could make…

　　A white light flashed before his eyes and a familiar figure appeared before the three of them.

　　The three of them: “…”

　　That’s way too fast!

　　Shen Ying stood in front of them in silence and without any expression. The three people felt a chill run down their spine and shoot right into their hearts. Shen Ying narrowed her eyes and stared at the person standing on the far right, reaching out.

　　Yi Qing was trembling. He pulled a slab of barbequed meat from out of nowhere and shouted, “Master, do you want supper?”

　　She paused. Then, she turned to face the person next to him…

　　“I have pastries, do you want some?” Lonemoon immediately held out a bowl of pastries.

　　Thankfully, he kept some food for himself during dinner.

　　She paused once more. Then, she turned to face the last person…

　　Xun Shu: “…” Motherf*cker!

　　“Wait, what do you want… wake up and look closely… I’m Xun Shu… Don’t… Help!”