Yuyi ran frantically through the maze of the Youming Desert, behind him the chilling laughter of Xueji. The corridors of the maze were dark and damp, the walls flickering with faint spiritual light that couldn't illuminate the path ahead. Each step on the sandy ground made a slight rustling sound, particularly clear in this silent maze.
"Yuyi, you can't escape!" Xueji's voice echoed through the maze, carrying bloodthirsty madness. "Though legend says this Youming Desert maze has an exit, do you think you can find it?"
Yuyi was anxious, turning at every corner, daring not to pause for a moment. He knew this Youming Desert maze was a legendary desert secret realm—there had to be a way out. If he could find the exit, he could escape to safety. But Xueji's cultivation was far above his, and the pressure of an early Nascent Soul Realm expert followed him like a shadow, making it almost impossible to breathe.
He didn't know how long he had been running when Yuyi suddenly discovered the corridor ahead widening. He quickened his pace and rushed into a massive hall.
The hall was nearly four hundred meters wide, with a soaring domed ceiling. The surrounding walls were carved with ancient runes emitting faint spiritual light. At the far end of the hall, there was a stone platform with several treasures placed upon it, glittering under the spiritual light.
Yuyi quickly approached the stone platform and saw: a pair of gleaming gloves emitting faint spiritual light, seeming to contain some powerful force; a spirit bead of unknown material, completely translucent with flowing light inside; a technique manual with "Liancheng Sword Art" written on the cover in vigorous strokes; and a complete map of the maze, marking all passages and mechanisms.
Yuyi's heart leaped with joy, and he reached out to take the treasures. Suddenly, he noticed a hidden rune formation beneath the stone platform. Upon closer inspection, he discovered this was a mechanism formation that would take some time to activate.
Just then, footsteps came from behind.
"It seems you've found something good." Xueji walked slowly into the hall, confident in manner, a bloodthirsty smile on her lips. Her red robes appeared especially eerie under the spiritual light, her beautiful exterior hiding deadly danger.
Yuyi's heart sank. He knew Xueji's strength was far above his. An early Nascent Soul Realm versus a late Golden Core Realm—they were simply not in the same league. If he fought head-on, he would surely die.
"Xueji, you've been chasing me for so long. Aren't you tired?" Yuyi forced himself to appear calm, trying to stall for time. His gaze occasionally glanced at the rune formation beneath the stone platform, silently calculating the time.
Xueji laughed softly, her voice melodious like silver bells yet piercing with cold. "Chasing you, how could I be tired? You're the one I've come to kill. The foremost of the Tianyin Pavilion's Ten Great Experts killing a late Golden Core Realm cultivator is merely a trivial matter."
Yuyi looked at the treasures on the stone platform and made a decision. He picked up the treasures, turned to face Xueji, and said, "This is a map of the maze, these gloves have quite a history, and this spirit bead is a treasure cultivators dream of. It seems I can't escape after all."
A flash of greed passed through Xueji's eyes. "Since you know you can't escape, hand over the items, and I can give you a quick death."
Yuyi shook his head. "Since there's no way out, I'll just have to use my true strongest technique that I've never shown anyone to fight you to the death. But before that, I'm very curious whether these gloves are truly indestructible."
Saying this, Yuyi threw the gloves toward Xueji.
Xueji reached out to catch them, a trace of puzzlement in her eyes. She hadn't expected Yuyi to hand over the treasure so easily. She examined the gloves carefully and discovered this was an extremely rare Dharma Treasure—the Spirit Silk Gloves, a legendary indestructible divine object.
Yuyi continued, "You must know the Xuantian Sect's Yin-Yang Palm! Actually, my strongest technique isn't the sword, but the Yin-Yang Palm! Even bare-handed, you won't defeat me without paying a price."
Xueji sneered. "Yin-Yang Palm? You think I'd fear you? Though the Xuantian Sect's Yin-Yang Palm is powerful, how much of its power can you, a late Golden Core Realm cultivator, unleash?"
Yuyi was secretly anxious. He knew the mechanism beneath the stone platform needed five minutes to activate. He had already stalled for some time, but needed to continue.
"Xueji, why don't you take a look at that spirit bead first? Perhaps you'll find an unexpected surprise." Yuyi threw the spirit bead and Liancheng Sword Art to Xueji as well.
Xueji caught the treasures, even more puzzled. She didn't know what Yuyi was planning, but the treasures were indeed tempting. She picked up the spirit bead and discovered it contained extremely pure spiritual power, seemingly a very precious treasure.
Just then, the ground of the hall suddenly began to tremble. The stone platform slowly moved aside, revealing a passage leading downward.
Yuyi's heart leaped with joy. He knew the mechanism had activated. Without hesitation, he leaped into the passage.
"Yuyi!" Xueji shouted in rage, pursuing into the passage.
The passage was dark and narrow. Yuyi ran desperately. He didn't know where the passage led, but he knew this was his only path to survival. Behind him came Xueji's angry curses, making him dare not pause for a moment.
He didn't know how long he had been running when Yuyi suddenly saw light ahead. He quickened his pace and rushed out of the passage, his vision suddenly opening up.
The sun!
Yuyi saw the sun, joy beyond words. Golden sunlight bathed him, dispelling the gloom of the maze. He had finally escaped the Youming Desert maze!
But Xueji followed close behind, chasing out.
"Yuyi, you can't escape!" Xueji shouted in rage, pursuing again. Her red robes were especially glaring in the sunlight, her beautiful face twisted with anger.
Yuyi dared not stop, continuing to run. The two began another chase through the desert.
A day and a night.
The desert sun burned Yuyi's skin, and the night wind was bone-chilling. His spiritual power was greatly depleted. His late Golden Core Realm cultivation, under the pursuit of Xueji's early Nascent Soul Realm, had reached its limit. But he dared not stop, because he knew that once he stopped, it meant death.
Just as Yuyi was about to collapse, he saw an oasis ahead.
The oasis had a spirit spring, clear to the bottom, surrounded by spirit herbs. In the desert, such an oasis was simply a miracle.
Yuyi rushed to the spirit spring and drank deeply. The cool spirit spring water moistened his parched throat, restoring his depleted spiritual power. Xueji also caught up, and seeing the spirit spring, stopped to drink as well.
Both were gasping for breath, their spiritual power greatly depleted. Yuyi leaned against the spirit spring, breathing heavily. Xueji also sat nearby, her red robes soaked with sweat.
"It's been so many days. Don't you have something urgent to attend to?" Yuyi said between breaths. "If you do, I beg you to go handle your business first, then come back to kill me! You could even assassinate me later—wouldn't that be much more meaningful than both of us running ourselves to death?"
Xueji froze, suddenly remembering something, her expression changing drastically. She abruptly stood up, anxiety flashing in her eyes.
"Damn it!" Xueji said angrily. "You wait. This trip you've ruined everything for me. After I finish my business, I'll definitely come to Youyue Valley to take your dog life!"
With that, Xueji turned and left, her figure quickly disappearing into the desert.
Yuyi let out a breath of relief, collapsing by the spirit spring. He knew he had temporarily escaped. But he dared not stay long. After resting briefly, he rose and ran toward Zhongzhou City.
Midnight, Youyue Valley.
Shaying was organizing books in the pavilion, worried in her heart. Yuyi had been gone for many days and hadn't returned yet. She gently stroked the pages, her eyes full of longing.
Suddenly, the pavilion door was pushed open.
Shaying looked up to see Yuyi's disheveled figure. His dharma robes were in tatters, he was covered in wounds, and his face was exhausted.
"Shaying, I missed you." Yuyi said weakly, then collapsed before Shaying.
Shaying hurried forward, supporting Yuyi. She discovered he was covered in wounds, obviously having experienced a life-and-death escape. She tenderly cared for Yuyi, cleaning his body and applying healing pills.
During the cleaning, Shaying discovered Yuyi's Protective Talisman was gone. Her heart tightened. She knew the Protective Talisman was Yuyi's life-saving treasure. Now that it was gone, it meant Yuyi had used the talisman during the pursuit.
Shaying gently stroked Yuyi's face, her eyes full of heartache. She knew Yuyi must have experienced something extremely dangerous this time.
In his unconsciousness, a smile hung on Yuyi's lips. He knew he had finally returned to Shaying's side.
The night was deep, and Youyue Valley was peaceful. Shaying watched over Yuyi, waiting for him to wake. Moonlight spilled through the window onto the two of them, adding a touch of warmth to this peaceful night.