The voice of the Sect Master of the Demon Sect was deep, and it did not carry a tone of accountability or interrogation.
However, the moment he spoke, everyone present suddenly felt a tightness in their hearts and a tremendous pressure.
Li Muyang, who had the lowest cultivation, was even more affected, breaking into a sweat on his forehead almost instantly and his body tensed unconsciously.
The terrifying aura of this high-ranking power, even though not directed at Li Muyang, left him utterly horrified.
Noticing Li Muyang’s discomfort, Yan Xiaoru furrowed her brows slightly.
She subtly shifted her body to shield Li Muyang from the overwhelming aura of the powerful.
Li Muyang then felt somewhat relieved.
Yan Xiaoru, who faced the Sect Master of the Demon Sect alone, appeared exhausted. The toxins whirling inside her surged, yet her gaze remained as cold and indifferent as ever.
“…In that battle four months ago, I sustained a very critical injury. The demonic poison of that female centipede at Centipede Ridge almost claimed my life,”
“Before it died, it exploded the Sun Moon Urn and further devastated my spirit.”
“Had I not fortunately fallen into an ancient secret realm that day, my spirit might have been crushed by the explosive force of the Sun Moon Urn.”
“Even though I escaped a deadly fate, I was not out of danger.”
“Over these four months, I have been struggling on the verge of death.”
“Only today did I barely catch a breath and broke out of the secret realm…”
Yan Xiaoru looked coldly at the people present, then turned her chilling gaze toward the Sect Master of the Refinement Demon Sect, “In these four months, you searched the entire city. Couldn’t you have discovered that there was an ancient secret realm hidden within Magic Sword City? Why didn’t you open the secret realm to save me?”
“Moreover, Centipede Ridge was called upon to assist Magic Sword City on someone’s orders. Why did this group of centipedes suddenly rebel?”
“Had I not persisted desperately, finding a way to survive at last, I might have already died ten thousand times over!”
Yan Xiaoru’s gaze was icy, her tone unfriendly.
All seventeen Elders present were taken aback, then exchanged looks, each not knowing what to make of the situation.
Finally, everyone’s eyes fell on Gong Yanghong, the Sect Master of the Demon Sect.
The person who had approved the idea of calling Centipede Ridge to assist with their Demons was none other than the Sect Master himself.
Although at the time, no one could have predicted that the Demons of Centipede Ridge would suddenly turn traitor,
now, under everyone’s watch, especially under the piercingly cold accusatory gaze of the young Elder Yan Xiaoru, Gong Yanghong’s eyebrows involuntarily twitched.
He had originally intended to question his subordinates, considering the significance of the Immortal Sword. The mysterious disappearance of the other party for four months before suddenly appearing warranted a detailed interrogation.
However, Yan Xiaoru’s cold, rightful questioning had suppressed his momentum instead.
Gong Yanghong fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly said, “So there was an ancient secret realm within this city…”
He looked at Yan Xiaoru before him.
Though an Elder of the Demon Sect with a vast aura, she appeared exhausted and feeble, her complexion carrying a hint of death, as if her life was hanging by a thread.
At this moment, she even needed the assistance of the Outer Sect Disciple to stand firmly…
Gong Yanghong slowly stepped forward, stopping in front of Yan Xiaoru, “Is Elder Yan’s condition very serious?”
His concern was feigned, his testing real.
Yet before he could continue, Yan Xiaoru extended her hand, expressionless.
Gong Yanghong’s hand barely touched Yan Xiaoru’s wrist when he suddenly felt the dire turmoil within her body.
“…Elder Yan has suffered a lot.”
Gong Yanghong forced a smile, withdrawing his hand, “I will immediately order someone to bring healing and detoxifying Spiritual Medicine to Elder Yan, sparing no expense to aid her recovery!”
The situation inside Yan Xiaoru’s body was even more frightening than she had described.
Not only was her spirit damaged, but she was also infected with demonic poison, the toxins had penetrated deep into her bones and soul.
That she was still alive was nothing short of a miracle.
Although his doubts had dissipated, there was one question that still needed to be asked.
“…And the ancient Immortal Sword? Where is the Immortal Sword now?”
Gong Yanghong asked earnestly, “Has it been subdued by Elder Yan?”
So many people had come to the City of Demon Sword, all for the ancient Immortal Sword.
And Yan Xiaoru was the only one who had witnessed the appearance of the ancient Immortal Sword and remained until the end, everyone concerned about the aftermath of the battle underground and the whereabouts of the Immortal Sword.
Yan Xiaoru looked at him indifferently and said, “That day, the mother centipede at Centipede Ridge took advantage of the chaos to strike, intending to perish together with me. She detonated herself releasing demonic poison and also triggered the explosion of the Sun Moon Pot, pushing me into a desperate situation.”
“I could only watch helplessly as the ancient Immortal Sword flew away.”
“As for where the Immortal Sword flew to and where it is now, I have no idea.”
Yan Xiaoru turned her head to glance behind her; the spatial rift behind her had already disappeared.
All those present could no longer sense the existence of the secret realm.
This included Yan Xiaoru, who had just emerged from that secret realm.
She said, “But you can try searching the ancient secret realm where I took refuge for these four months.”
“I also do not know where the entrance to that secret realm is, my escape was merely a fortunate coincidence.”
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“Perhaps recreating the power of the explosion from the Sun Moon Pot, strong enough to shatter the space and open the secret realm… you can try to force it.”
Yan Xiaoru explained the causes and effects in a detached tone.
After all, she had not seen the Immortal Sword, nor did she know its whereabouts.
Hearing her response, the elders were somewhat disappointed.
But they were not surprised.
With Yan Xiaoru’s Spirit Travel Realm power, she might be able to trap an unmastered Immortal Sword without interruption and hold it until reinforcements arrived.
But under the self-destructive attack of the Demon King of Centipede Ridge, no one could neutralize the Demon King’s attack while also stopping the departing Immortal Sword.
Even the Sect Master of Demon Sect, Gong Yanghong, could at most sustain lighter injuries than Yan Xiaoru.
Yan Xiaoru saying she witnessed the Immortal Sword’s disappearance without knowing its whereabouts seemed to align with everyone’s speculation.
Because if that Immortal Sword had remained, surely it wouldn’t have allowed the gravely injured Yan Xiaoru to survive until now.
Yan Xiaoru’s words were all reasonable and matched everyone’s expectations.
Although the loss of the ancient Immortal Sword was highly regrettable.
The Sect Master of the Demon Sect sighed and said, “First we take Elder Yan back to recover from her injuries… Elder Yan, you should hurry back to heal, and leave the rest to us.”
“From this moment, extend the search area outside the City of Demon Sword.”
“Order all the disciples to go out, scouring the mountains outside the city, not overlooking any clues.”
“Perhaps the ancient Immortal Sword has hidden somewhere in the mountains outside the City of Demon Sword.”
Gong Yanghong thus instructed.
And the seriously injured Yan Xiaoru, was supported by Li Muyang as they left.
After receiving Yan Xiaoru’s news, the elders quickly lost interest and turned away.
They had been searching for four months, and had long since given up. The news brought by Yan Xiaoru’s appearance didn’t provide any progress.
As for the Outer Sect Disciple by Yan Xiaoru’s side… none of the elders from the Demon Sect present paid much attention to an Outer Sect Disciple.
As Li Muyang supported Yan Xiaoru and left the scene, almost nobody looked at him.
An Outer Sect Disciple in such a setting was as insignificant as an ant.
Li Muyang’s presence felt almost nonexistent.