Chapter 69 Mutation

Just as the two men were about to part ways,

"Hum—!"

From deep within the forest behind them, a powerful aura suddenly erupted into the surroundings.

"Who's there?"

Shen Jianxin spun around, his long sword held horizontally, its tip gleaming with a piercing, icy light.

"Seniors of the Superior Sect!"

"I harbor no ill intentions! Please hold your attacks!"

With these words, a youth of about twenty years old walked slowly out from behind an ancient tree. His face was wreathed in smiles, as if he had merely stumbled upon this place by accident.

Lu Changfeng narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Are you a disciple of the Azure Mist Sect?"

He had previously encountered a disciple from the Azure Mist Sect, so the uniform this person wore was instantly familiar to him.

This person possessed a profound level of cultivation, standing firmly at the second level of the Origin Pill realm.

"What is your business?"

Shen Jianxin did not put away his sword, but instead asked in a detached tone.

"Senior, I accidentally overheard your conversation just now!"

"There are a few matters I simply cannot figure out, which is why I dared to show myself and disturb you."

The Azure Mist Sect disciple stepped forward slowly, speaking with a look of utmost sincerity.

"Oh?"

Shen Jianxin nodded slightly, the guarded look on his face diminishing somewhat.

Meanwhile, Lu Changfeng watched the disciple's movements, his brow furrowing slightly.

This was because after stating his reasons, the Azure Mist Sect disciple had not stopped in his tracks, but continued to walk closer. He had already closed the distance between them to less than five paces.

At that exact moment, the expression of the Azure Mist Sect disciple twisted into a ferocious scowl. He shouted ruthlessly, "You must be Shen Jianxin and Lu Changfeng!"

"Since you've crossed paths with me, prepare to die!"

The moment the words left his mouth, a pitch-black seal shattered from within his body.

A sharp, ear-splitting screech that seemed to pierce the firmaments burst forth violently.

"What?!"

Shen Jianxin was momentarily stunned, and then his expression changed drastically.

Right at that instant, the piercing shriek, carrying a massive and chaotic surge of soul energy, swept directly toward Shen Jianxin and Lu Changfeng.

"Soul-Destruction Mark?!"

Only cultivators of the Divine Reservoir realm could externalize their spiritual soul to forge this kind of lethal attack!

Lu Changfeng’s expression darkened. Without a single moment of hesitation, he furiously channeled the Dao Ancestor Scripture. He coaxed a wisp of aura from the Dao Ancestor Cauldron, tightly shielding his sea of consciousness.

Boom!

The Soul-Destruction Mark followed closely behind, its overwhelming power acting like thousands of silver needles desperately trying to pierce through the aura protecting Lu Changfeng.

Although that wisp of aura was thin, it was unyielding. The Soul-Destruction Mark could do nothing against it.

However, Shen Jianxin, standing behind Lu Changfeng, possessed no such protective measure. He had raised his cultivation to shield himself at the very first sign of danger.

Yet the Soul-Destruction Mark was not a physical assault; it was a method directed entirely against the soul.

In a fraction of a second, blood poured from the seven orifices of Shen Jianxin’s face. His features twisted into a tight knot as if he had suffered a devastating blow. His body trembled uncontrollably before he collapsed onto the ground, emitting a silent groan.

Fortunately, he had spent years cultivating in the Hidden Sword Valley, frequently tempering his own sea of consciousness. Though the Soul-Destruction Mark was fiercely powerful, it merely shattered a portion of his soul rather than instantly claiming his life.

"You're courting death!"

Lu Changfeng did not hesitate. Bracing against the onslaught of the Soul-Destruction Mark, he forcefully thrust his body forward, charging straight ahead.

One had to realize that ordinary disciples entering the mystic realm would always go out of their way to avoid those from the Daoist Procreation Sect. They knew well that they could never contend with the disciples of the Daoist Procreation Sect for treasures.

Yet this Azure Mist Sect disciple had actually dared to launch a proactive ambush!

Worse still, an ordinary Origin Pill realm disciple was carrying a Soul-Destruction Mark—something that only a Divine Reservoir realm expert could craft!

This was no longer a mere struggle for resources between disciples; it was a matter concerning the enmity between two sects.

Though Lu Changfeng moved instantly to strike down the Azure Mist Sect disciple, he was still a step too late.

The Azure Mist Sect disciple saw that Lu Changfeng remained completely unaffected by the Soul-Destruction Mark. Without the slightest hesitation, he crushed a Divine Mobility Talisman in his right hand, his figure transforming into a wisp of azure smoke that vanished from the spot.

Lu Changfeng had no intention of letting him escape so easily.

"Don't pursue him!"

A weak voice sounded from behind him.

Lu Changfeng turned around with a cold face. At that moment, Shen Jianxin was deathly pale, fresh blood still dripping from the corners of his mouth.

He forced himself to sit up, his eyes glazed and unfocused. He looked as though he could lose consciousness at any second.

"The Azure Mist Sect is merely a minor sect subordinate to the Daoist Procreation Sect!"

"Their disciples could never possibly possess such means!"

He breathed heavily, his right hand pinching his left hand repeatedly to force himself to stay awake.

Hearing Shen Jianxin’s words, Lu Changfeng frowned slightly.

"The Azure Mist Sect... they have likely betrayed us!"

"The people behind them must want to cripple us so we cannot participate in the upcoming Grand Tournament of a Hundred Sects!"

"Clearly, they underestimated the capabilities of the two of us!"

Though Shen Jianxin was puzzled as to why Lu Changfeng had emerged unscathed, he knew this was not the time to dwell on such matters.

Glancing at Lu Changfeng, Shen Jianxin continued, "You cannot chase him! That fellow might still have other tricks up his sleeve!"

Lu Changfeng frowned deeply as he looked at Shen Jianxin, knowing the other man still had more to say.

Shen Jianxin met Lu Changfeng's gaze and pressed on:

"Lu Changfeng! The sect must be informed of this matter immediately!"

As he spoke, he drew his jade talisman from his bosom and handed it to Lu Changfeng, saying, "I have suffered devastating injuries and can no longer continue hunting demonic beasts here."

"Therefore, crush my jade talisman and send me out!"

Lu Changfeng was taken aback.

Having finished these words, Shen Jianxin’s condition seemed to deteriorate even further. Blood continued to stream uncontrollably from his nose and mouth.

The shattering of one's soul would have rendered an ordinary person unconscious instantly, or worse, plunged them into a permanent coma. The fact that Shen Jianxin could still forcefully analyze the situation placed him at the absolute end of his tether!

"Crush my jade talisman! I will go outside and report this to the sect!"

"You must stay here and continue your cultivation!"

"This is the last thing I can do right now."

Shen Jianxin’s voice grew fainter and fainter, his vision beginning to blur entirely.

"I understand!"

"Rest assured, the disciples of the Azure Mist Sect will not leave this place alive!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Changfeng reached out and crushed Shen Jianxin’s jade talisman.

The next moment, a faint smile touched the corner of Shen Jianxin's lips, as if he felt a sense of relief. His body was enveloped in a surge of white light and vanished from the spot.

Cold glimmers flickered in Lu Changfeng's eyes. He looked at his own jade talisman, which now displayed over three hundred golden inscriptions, yet felt not a shred of joy in his heart.

"Azure Mist Sect!"

Lu Changfeng muttered in a low voice, "You picked the wrong person to mess with."

Swish—!

The Dao-One Sword materialized in his hand. A sharp, biting sword qi cleaved the surrounding ancient trees straight through the middle.

A chilling aura echoed through the deep forest, an intangible murderous intent swirling and causing the entire woodland to rustle with countless whispering sounds.

The next instant,

Whoosh—!

Lu Changfeng’s figure vanished from the spot, speeding furiously in the direction where the Azure Mist Sect disciple had fled.

At the same time, his spiritual perception opened to its absolute limit, his powerful aura surging upward without holding anything back.