Before she got too far, an oppressive aura violently shook the surroundings. The Super Donkeys were in a frenzy as Feng Yu struggled to keep them in control.

When Yaomu Shou felt this aura, her eyes narrowed as she looked up to the skies, “Uncle Yan, what’s the meaning of this!?”

****

In the skies, the void above everyone cracked as two aged men stepped through, one of which wore a fierce gaze.

The younger of the two wasn’t particularly pensive, but the older one was the one who materialized his cauldrons at the moment. He appeared as if he was already in combat mode, ready to make a move.

As of now, Shen Ling was under strain as she stared at this stranger above her with venomous eyes. Her knees were visibly shaking, not from fear but from what she felt him levying against her.

It was obvious that the bulk of his pressure was assaulting her and the disparity in the cultivation gap was enough to instill physical harm.

As an Abyss Ghost, there were moves she could employ to offset this pressure. However, if she did anything like that, then Long Di would be alone against the pressure, and she doubted that this person had his best interest at heart.

“Uncle Yan, you haven’t answered me yet,” stated Yaomu Shou.

“Young miss, I have to advise you to distance yourself from these people,” Uncle Yan replied.

“Uncle Yan, you would dare hurt the people I have set my sights o-”

Uncle Yan waved her off and advised of the reason for his actions, “Young miss, hear me out! I have reasons to believe that this young woman is an Abyss Ghost!”

“What!?” Yaomu Shou was shocked when she heard this. She looked at Shen Ling, who was staring back at them without saying anything. Her expression neither denied nor confirmed his statement. But in such a situation wasn’t silence the same as tacitly agreeing with him?

Furthermore, Shen Ling’s features didn’t match with any known subraces under the demon race either. Sure, there were hundreds of subraces that were included under the banner of the demon race, however, Yaomu Shou and the old men above were privy to the characteristics of most of these races.

The circumstances surrounding her still weren’t solid, even if they didn’t take this into account. After all, in the demon race, when the subraces of a certain kind procreated with another race, the resulting offspring would more or less end up being weaker due to the muddled bloodlines.

As a result, most races within the demon race choose to keep their bloodlines pure, so as to not create an inferior offspring. In some clans and families, having a lover outside their bloodline was punishable by death.

Yet, what was weak about Shen Ling? She possessed a single cauldron yet was still able to kill a four star core Martial Master! Sure, he was weak due to his carelessness of launching an attack that was above his abilities, but according to reason, a Martial Master shouldn’t have died to a Martial Disciple as easily as he did.

Plus, the fear that he experienced, in particular, struck a chord in them. The few ancient texts that existed within the archives concerning the Abyss Ghost were few and far in between, yet the fact that they ruled with fear and seemed disconnected within the confines of this world were some of the features that described them.

Even they, being as experienced as they were, had to admit that this girl’s beauty seemed as if it willed itself to go beyond the confines of this world. They thought to themselves that it was best that she had her veil on, so they didn’t have any second thoughts.

Feng Yu, Tie Lang, Jie Yan, along with the two other girls, were also taking in the entire proceeding without interjecting, their expressions grave. Normally, Feng Yu wouldn’t mind interrupting on her younger apprentice sister’s behalf, but she knew her words didn’t have much weight here. As a matter of fact, the only person the old man seemed to only be listening to is Yaomu Shou, and even she seemed to be weighing her pros and cons at the moment.

“If the family were to find that you have been associating with an Abyss Ghost, I needn’t tell you the consequences, right? If she shares even an iota of their blood, she MUST be exterminated!” Uncle Yan added.

Just the mere fact that she was thinking about it was a testament to her personality. The Abyss Ghost was a race known as a universal enemy of all other races. Sure, the demon race might not go out of their way to seek out such an existence as some other races did, but the discovery of one was to be met with swift retribution. This was a scourge that couldn’t be allowed to reappear on the continent!

Suddenly, a voice bereft of emotion but filled with struggles sounded out, “S-She isn’t what you think she is.”

Everyone looked to where the voice came from and saw Long Di in Shen Ling’s arms. His eyes were half-open but his breathing was labored and everyone could see that it took everything he had just to say those words.

The person known as Uncle Yan stared at him coldly, “I will not make things hard on you, boy, and I will consider letting you and the others go.”

Hearing this, not considering the others, even Yaomu Shou was shocked that he was willing to let people go. Yaomu Shou was certainly taken aback, but understanding eventually dawned on her that this may be due to the backing that Long Di possessed, causing them to not go overboard. This meant that if they played their cards right, they might be able to leave here without incident.

However, what he said next dashed even this hope.

“While I am willing to let you and the others go, that girl is eerily similar to what our ancient texts ascribed and she must stay behind.”

Long Di stared at him for a while. It appeared as if he was collecting his strength to say something else, “… I won’t leave her behind.”

These words caused Shen Ling’s maiden heart to be touched. “Senior apprentice Long, don’t say anything more,” she said after seeing his struggle just to speak.

Uncle Yan wasn’t moved by his courage, “Then don’t blame me for being strong-handed!”

He waved his hand which summoned a strong wind. Though he said this, he wasn’t going to hurt Long Di, he had more than enough power to kill her without harming Long Di.

Shen Ling gently placed Long Di down behind her and took a stance with the sword. The tip pointed at the old man.

Seeing this, Yaomu Shou was slightly impressed.

“You can’t hurt apprentice sister Ling!”

A shout followed by several figures who ran to Shen Ling’s side echoed out. Yaomu Shou and the two elders saw how Feng Yu, Tie Lang, and Jia Yan ran to stand side-by-side with Shen Ling. Even Xiannu Liang came with them.

Though Feng Yu told Xiannu Liang that she didn’t have to come, the latter didn’t feel good staying behind and decided to step out with them to defend Shen Ling. The only one who was left behind was Zi Yu. Though she couldn’t be blamed since she didn’t know them long enough to put her life on the line for them.

Nevertheless. they took out their own weapons and glared fiercely at the elder, even though his power eclipsed theirs.

He eyed each disciple one by one, his eyes stopping on Xiannu Liang for a moment longer than the others. He knew what she was, she could see that. However, she stood her ground all the same.

“Hmph!”

The elder coldly snorted and was about to take action, when another shout stopped him.

“Wait!”

The two elders looked towards Yaomu Shou, who now had a purple sword in hand. The blade was lined with intricate engravings that radiated a majestic prestige. Its hilt and handle were ornate, and it was well beyond the grade of secular weapons as Yaomu Shou held it.

“Young miss, what are you planning to do!?” This time, it was the younger of the two elders who spoke up, not wanting this little ancestor of theirs to be too willful at this time.

She took a deep breath with the sword in hand as she commanded, “I will take responsibility for this. You may leave.”

“Young Miss!” The elders were shocked at their young miss’s decision! They were sure that she knew of the consequences if word of this was to leak out.

She then looked at Long Di, who was staring back at her, “Can I trust what you said before?” she finally asked.

Long Di nodded, knowing that she was referring to when he said that Shen Ling wasn’t what they thought she was.

Getting his answer, she stared back at the two elders, “I have made my decision, Uncle Yan, and second Uncle Li.”

The second Uncle Li was shocked that she was willing to take such a risk for these people. Uncle Yan knew about certain matters and, after thinking about it, continued to take action anyway.

Yaomu Shou saw this and shouted, “Uncle Yan, you dare!”

“This useless old man will be willful this one time and bear the young miss’s fury, but this is for your own good!” He launched a palm attack that instantly forced Shen Ling to her knees, leaving the other disciples standing. His level of control of his power had reached a masterful level.

Yaomu Shou’s face gritted her teeth and made a hard decision in the blink of an eye.

“Then you leave me no choice!”

Shing!

The whirring of a purple sword rang out, causing the young elder to look over before he paled in shock!

“Stop!”

Second Uncle Li fired off a palm strike of his own that struck Uncle Yan sending the latter flying!

Bam!

Second Uncle Li then rushed towards Yaomu Shou in the blink of an eye.

Boom!

His figure smashed into the earth with a crash and when the dust cleared one could see the one known as Second Uncle Li bowing before Yaomu Shou.

“Please stay your hand young miss! Your blood needn’t be shed on ones such as ourselves!”

Everyone was dumbstruck by the sudden turn of events. Why did the elder attack his friend? Why did he start bowing in front of Yaomu Shou!? Nothing made sense!

Shu!

Uncle Yan rushed back towards everyone else with undisguised fury on his face.

“Wan Li, are you planning t-”

Uncle Yan’s next words caught up in his throat when he saw second Uncle Li and Yaomu Shou with the sword a few centimeters from her palm, ready to draw blood.

He himself paled as well at the brazenness of his young miss, “you would dare invoke the Divine Decree… for them!?”

“Yes!” Her expression was resolute.

Whoosh!

His robes fluttered in the wind as he aimed his palm at Shen Ling once more.

“I don’t believe you dare!”

She puffed up her chest to welcome the challenge.

“Try me!”