Chapter 84: Bloodshed, Demon Unleashed

The crimson hue spread like blood, transforming the shattered mountains within a thousand-mile radius into flat plains in an instant. Scarlet smoke billowed skywards, and chaotic corpses appeared before his eyes. A purple-haired woman, clutching a violet crystal sword, knelt on the ground.

She was drenched in blood, her hair streaked with purple and red. Blood trickled down her long locks, dripping from her lips and fingertips, her murderous aura rising fiercely.

“Benefactor...”

Ye Ran’s heart trembled. Even someone as powerful as her was gravely wounded. He hurried forward to help her, but after only three steps, he halted. The purple figure always remained an arrow’s distance away; he instantly understood—this was an illusion.

The purple-haired woman pushed herself up with her violet crystal sword. Ye Ran saw several figures leap up and attack her. Despite her injuries, she managed to slay a few, retreating as she fought. The terrain beneath her feet shifted—rolling hills, dim swamps, endless mountains.

Ye Ran witnessed her embattled retreat, and the massive forms of the golden-headed centipede and the giant millipede. Countless temple experts pursued them relentlessly, all bearing severe wounds.

“Come.”

By the time they fled westward to the mountain ranges, they were near death. Yet the purple-haired woman, the golden-headed centipede, and the giant millipede showed no signs of relaxation after evading their pursuers. Instead, their faces were marked by a desperate sense of impending doom.

“It’s your turn to repay the debt. Find me.”

Her last glance was cold and resolute, her voice low and somber. Then all illusions vanished; the stones, grass, and trees before him swayed gently in the wind.

“Benefactor...”

Ye Ran awoke with a start.

“Ye Ran, Ye Ran...”

“Ye Ran, what’s wrong?”

He turned to see Freya and the others’ worried faces. Just moments ago, Ye Ran seemed possessed, glancing about wildly, calling out “Benefactor” again and again, which alarmed them greatly. Now, as Ye Ran returned to himself, their anxiety eased.

Ye Ran wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Brother Xin, Little Meng, you two take Freya to the Evil Land of Ibo first.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

Ye Ran shook his head. “I need to find someone. Once I’ve repaid her life-saving kindness, I’ll meet you.”

Without waiting for their reply, he quickly descended the mountain.

Meng Qi and Sinclair exchanged confused glances, then looked at Freya’s bewildered expression and felt their heads spinning.

After some thought, they decided to take the young girl to Ibo’s Evil Land first.

“Rustle, rustle.”

But scarcely had they gone a mile when leaves behind them suddenly flew up, a flock of birds flapping into the sky. An invisible force spread through the air.

“It’s her.”

Meng Qi and Sinclair froze in terror—this was the mind force of the divine envoy. They hurried their pace, but scarcely had they taken a few steps when they stopped.

On a high branch ahead, a woman stood against the wind. Her red silk blouse fluttered, and the scarf around her neck lifted gently.

It was over. Both men felt a jolt of fear; the strength of this envoy was indisputable.

But Shari merely glanced at them, her brows furrowing slightly. “The powerful aura of the insect tribe—I’m late again.”

She turned and vanished from the branch, and the invisible force dissipated. Leaves drifted down like willow fluff.

“Sinclair, fool, you’d best take care of yourselves.”

Her voice echoed from the foot of the mountain, and in a moment, she had crossed half the range.

Ye Ran ran down the mountain without pause, his mind racing.

That purple-haired woman was from the insect tribe—there was no doubt. She was the only known member capable of assuming human form, also the strongest among the five known insect tribe members. Even Apollo, the Sun God, could not capture her.

Yet, despite her strength, she had been gravely wounded under pursuit by the temple’s elite. What could he possibly do to help?

His thoughts were chaotic, but his steps never faltered. Since she sought his aid, he owed her a debt—he must repay it.

At the foothills to the west lay a thicket. Ye Ran leapt down onto a bush, ready to advance when his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Ahead, a dark figure had appeared, though he hadn’t noticed when.

A woman.

She wore a black veil hat and a small dress, her smooth fragrant shoulders exposed. In her hand was a long whip.

The black veil draped over her face, barely revealing her fair, flawless skin. Her alluring figure kindled a dangerous fire in the heart.

But Ye Ran had no interest in such charms now; instead, he readied himself, wary.

Though the veil hid her face, her aura could not be masked—the dense and familiar demonic energy, as dangerous as a viper.

“It’s you.”

Ye Ran stood, internal energy surging.

They had met once before in the underground nest, an unpleasant encounter—this witch had nearly killed him.

The witch giggled. “So defensive—are you afraid I’ll eat you?”

Ye Ran replied, “Do as you please, but I have no time to tangle with you today. Please step aside.”

“How unromantic,” the witch said. “It was Zi’er who sent me to fetch you.”

“Zi’er…”

“Your benefactor.”

She beckoned him with a finger, turned, and floated gracefully through the thicket.

Ye Ran frowned. He distrusted the demon clan, but aside from Freya and her companions, no one else knew of the purple-haired woman’s rescue. Besides, with the witch’s power, if she meant him harm, she could act directly.

With that thought, he doubted no more. Gathering his energy, he rushed forward. The witch lingered for him, and soon he heard the wind behind.

Ye Ran quickly caught up. “Miss, do you know my benefactor?”

The witch covered her mouth, laughing. “Know her? We just joined forces to kill several temple experts not long ago.”

“In your human tongue, ‘collusion’ seems to carry a negative meaning.”

She spoke guilelessly.

Ye Ran asked, “How can I help her escape?”

The witch glanced at him, blinked, and smiled, “Let’s cross Desolation Wall first.”

…

“Whoosh.”

An invisible force swept above the thicket, setting the trees rustling. A red figure descended from the sky, hovering above the bushes. As she landed, her brows arched sharply.

“Demonic aura.”

She could sense traces of lingering black energy, like tiny serpents.

Divine envoys were always acutely sensitive to demonic energy.

“You brat, have you really sunk so low as to consort with demons?”

Anger flashed; Shari’s mind force condensed, and her body vanished once again.