Before those ghostly beings could react, Song Zhixia had already taken action. Those beings closest to her in the void were torn apart by Song Zhixia. A faint smirk appeared at the corner of her lips. She wouldn't spare any of these ghostly creatures that caused her so much suffering, especially those at the bottom of the cliff.
For a while, chaos erupted under the Blood Demon Cliff. Some were running for their lives, while others were trying to avoid Song Zhixia's pursuit. Song Zhixia alternated between killing and stopping. While tearing apart these ghostly creatures, her cultivation unexpectedly broke through once again. Dark clouds covered the area beneath the Blood Demon Cliff, not as low as that day, but still dense enough to send shivers down the spines of onlookers.
Ordinarily, a cultivator would only need to go through seven heavenly tribulations to reach Mahayana realm. However, after falling into the demonic path, Song Zhixia had to endure fourteen heavenly tribulations. She was no longer afraid of pain; it was more of a trance. In the past, if she were to face tribulations, her Senior Sister would always be by her side.
Song Zhixia summoned her spirit sword into her hand. Now that her injuries were healed, and her body was empowered by three soul fragments, she no longer feared these tribulations.
The clouds pressed lower, quickly enveloping Song Zhixia in the gloom.
"This girl is too terrifying. In just a few days, she has advanced in realms again."
"Who would've thought she was so powerful? If we knew, we should've killed her to prevent future troubles."
The ghostly beings at the bottom of the cliff had been torn apart by Song Zhixia for days, and now they regretted their actions.
The tribulations finally descended. Song Zhixia raised her sword to block initially, managing to resist the first seven tribulations with her cultivation. However, the next seven tribulations proved challenging, and her body was gradually cut open by the thunder. By the time the last tribulation struck, Song Zhixia was somewhat exhausted. However, a more abundant spiritual qi surged in her dantian than ever before.
"Take advantage of her weakness, we can't let this woman live. Many of our brothers were torn to pieces by her. We must kill her quickly."
"Alright, let's attack together."
Countless dark shadows in the void rushed towards Song Zhixia. Suddenly, Song Zhixia opened her eyes, and there was clarity between her brows. "Alright, all come to their deaths, huh? I'll fulfill your wish."
As Song Zhixia began to attack, those ghostly creatures who approached her were annihilated by the sword qi. Their bodies turned into fireworks, leaving nothing behind. Whether it was due to constant consumption by these ghostly beings day and night or her injuries healing at an extraordinary rate, Song Zhixia's recovery was swift. The places where her flesh was opened up by the tribulations quickly healed.
The speed of Song Zhixia's sword increased, and she swung her spirit sword tirelessly. None of the approaching ghostly beings were spared. As the situation progressed, these beings, terrified by Song Zhixia's extraordinary abilities, began to scatter and flee, no longer daring to approach her.
Song Zhixia sneered, "What? Weren't you planning to kill me just now? How come you want to spare me now? But I have no intention of letting any of you go. I won't leave this bottom of the cliff until you are all torn to shreds."
With that, she started chasing after them. The ghostly beings, frightened by her bizarre prowess, began to disperse and flee. Some of them even revealed the secret of the Vermilion Bird soul fragment hidden at the bottom of the Blood Demon Cliff to save their lives.
"As long as you spare me, I'll take you to find that soul fragment. Please spare my life, and I will guide you."
Song Zhixia looked coldly at the remnant soul in front of her. "Alright, take me there."
The remnant soul now looked at Song Zhixia as if it had seen a ghost. It trembled as it led the way, afraid that if it displeased Song Zhixia, it would turn into ashes.
Soon, under the guidance of the remnant soul, Song Zhixia indeed found a soul fragment identical to her own within her body. She stood in place, lightly flicked it with her spiritual qi, and the soul fragment appeared in her palm. It quickly merged into her body and joined Song Zhixia's three existing soul fragments. Now, she had four pieces in total.
The remnant soul pleaded, "Young Miss, I've already led you to the soul fragment. Can you spare me now? I'll leave first."
Saying this, it tried to slip away, but Song Zhixia blocked its path with spiritual qi. Behind the remnant soul, a cold voice echoed from Song Zhixia, "When did I say I would spare you?"
Before the remnant soul could react, it was already blasted into pieces by Song Zhixia.
Over several months, Song Zhixia cleaned up the demonic remnants at the bottom of the Blood Demon Cliff. The area, once filled with dark energy, no longer had the ominous atmosphere. However, the black aura around Song Zhixia continued to grow heavier as her cultivation improved.
After subduing the demonic sword, Song Weizhi slowly ascended the steps, reaching the secluded secret chamber. With a gentle push, the heavily locked door opened. The guarding disciples were startled.
"Who? Who is in there?"
Before the disciples could finish speaking, Song Weizhi appeared before them.
One sharp-eyed disciple immediately recognized Song Weizhi, "It's Song Weizhi, that traitor. Everyone, attack together, kill this traitor!"
As the disciple's words fell, a dozen disciples rushed towards Song Weizhi. However, these people were no match for Song Weizhi. With a light touch in the void, their storage bags landed in Song Weizhi's hands. She casually picked out clothes and shoes from one of the bags, changed into them, and then dispelled the white mist in front of her.
"Monster woman, you dare to steal our belongings even at the brink of death? Kill her!"
The crowd swiftly soared towards Song Weizhi on their flying swords. Though the demonic sword in Song Weizhi's hand had not killed anyone, bloodstains continuously oozed from its blade. Since these people wanted her dead, she saw no reason to hold back.
Song Weizhi placed the demonic sword horizontally in front of her, emitting wisps of black energy. With a gentle swing, the dozen disciples charging towards her lost their vitality. The demonic sword absorbed their three souls and seven spirits, turning their bodies quickly into ashes.
The eerie voice inside the sword continued to speak, "It's so good to follow the Mistress. Fresh three souls and seven spirits as soon as we come out. Hehehe, delicious, delicious."
The grating sound from the sword was chilling, but Song Weizhi remained unfazed. She was not one to show mercy, especially when others sought to harm her.
The commotion from the recent fight attracted more guarding disciples and those who were going to inform Zhou Yeran. As anyone with a sword charging towards Song Weizhi faced her demonic sword, disciples in the training room diminished rapidly. The remaining few, who were smarter, had already fled. With the demonic sword in her hand, no one dared to obstruct Song Weizhi's path. The disciples in the training room were killed by someone else, leaving the room severely damaged. Even the magma that lay beneath the ground was exposed.
As Song Weizhi was about to confront Zhou Yeran directly, Wei Zhao, carrying a bunch of fire-resistant artifacts, rushed over. She then saw Song Weizhi standing there.
Wei Zhao's eyes turned red, and she rushed towards Song Weizhi, "Mistress, are you okay? I thought Zhou Yeran had really…"
Song Weizhi chuckled, "I was indeed thrown into the magma by Zhou Yeran. I died and revived several times inside, with my flesh constantly burnt and regrown by the magma. Zhou Yeran, I will not let him off. And you, how did you spend these days? How could Zhou Yeran spare you?"
Wei Zhao sighed, "It was Zhou Qingxue who saved me. But Mistress, rest assured, I have nothing to do with her now. Whatever Mistress asks me to do, I will do."
Song Weizhi understood Wei Zhao's sincerity, but after all, it was her matter with Zhou Yeran. Song Weizhi didn't want to involve Wei Zhao, but if she killed Zhou Yeran, Wei Zhao and Zhou Qingxue might not be as they were before. However, Zhou Yeran had to be killed.
"I and Zhou Yeran's matters, you don't have to get involved. It might affect your relationship with her," Song Weizhi explained.
"I stand with the Mistress," Wei Zhao hurriedly explained. Her life was given by the Mistress, so everything should be centered around Song Weizhi.
"I know, but when I deal with him, you must not interfere," Song Weizhi patted Wei Zhao's shoulder and instructed. At least, she couldn't let Wei Zhao take action.
Wei Zhao understood that it was for her good and nodded slightly.
[Host, the system detected that there seems to be a soul fragment nearby,] the mechanical voice of the system echoed in Song Weizhi's mind.
"Why didn't you say this before?" Song Weizhi asked the system. She had been at the Cold Mountain Sword Sect for some time, and the system had never mentioned this before.
[Before, it was because the host's strength was not enough to go there. That place is the Sword Tomb of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, eroded by thousands of sword qi all year round. People with insufficient cultivation who go there are like living targets for arrows. They will be injured by the sword qi, and in severe cases, even their three souls and seven spirits will be cut away, leaving nothing behind, dying and turning into ashes], the system explained.
Song Weizhi casually grabbed a disciple in the chaotic crowd, "Where is the Sword Tomb?"
The disciple, frightened to death by Song Weizhi, pleaded, "It's over there behind the mountain, spare me, spare me."
Song Weizhi let go of the disciple's collar, and her sword flew towards the back mountain, with Wei Zhao following closely. The closer to the Sword Tomb in the middle of the back mountain, the more desolate the trees became. In the end, only bare stones remained.
It was Song Weizhi's first time coming to the Sword Tomb of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, and the valley was filled with various types of swords, looking quite spectacular. She leaped down, arriving at the bottom of the valley within a few breaths. She wanted to spread her spiritual qi to see where the traces of the soul fragment were, but upon investigation, she found that there were others in the valley?