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Qing Xuanling watched in terror as Qing Meipon began fighting Cultivator Zhang. Their voices were loud enough for her to clearly hear what was happening above.
Above all, she heard Qing Meipon's battle cry with exceptional clarity: "May the Qing clan's heaven endure for eternity!"
Her young heart pounded fiercely as she felt her blood begin to boil at the sight of Qing Meipon's rejuvenated form.
The battles in the sky—including those of Qing Huomei and Qing Xuyun—were all astonishing. So much so that her gaze inevitably drifted upward.
"Youngsters, I know the battle up there is important and all, but we've got our own problems down here too." The Young Master's voice suddenly rang out, snapping Qing Xuanling and several others out of their trance.
Like a switch flipping, Qing Xuanling's attention dropped from the sky, and she finally became aware of her surroundings—which were no better than the chaos above.
On the ground, people outside the Young Master's barrier had instantly succumbed to madness. Their behavior grew far more extreme than before, and in several places, they'd even begun killing each other.
But the most terrifying part was the strands of spectral energy rising from the corpses, merging with other strands. A horrifying scene unfolded when ten such strands joined together.
Qing Xuanling brought a hand to her mouth as she watched a translucent figure emerge from the spectral energy flowing out of the growing pile of corpses.
These phantom figures—which Qing Xuanling decided to call worshipful ghosts—had no discernible facial features, only a pair of eyes brimming with reverence toward some incomprehensible entity.
If anything was more terrifying than that, it was the fact that these worshipful ghosts weren't like the typical ghosts from folktales who struggled to interact with the physical world. On the contrary, they seemed to belong more to the physical realm than to any spiritual plane where ghosts normally dwelled.
The worshipful ghosts could attack people with their translucent bodies, decapitating them and absorbing the spectral energy that rose from the corpses!
Qing Xuanling's pupils contracted when she realized the ghosts grew larger with every strand of spectral energy they absorbed!
The ghost she'd been watching had grown from one meter to 1.2 meters tall after killing just three people! The rate of growth was horrifying!
Even worse, over a dozen such ghosts were now feasting on death, taking advantage of the collective madness that left no one capable of defending themselves!
Qing Xuanling took a deep breath as she looked up at the blood-red sky. She finally understood—they'd fallen into an absolutely terrifying trap!
The Young Master seemed to think the same. "This is an incredibly fearsome formation... No, at this point, it can't even be called a formation anymore. This is a domain!"
Qing Tanwei, who had approached, looked at him in shock. "...What's a domain?"
A serious expression crossed the Young Master's face. "That's what I'd like to know. 'Domain' is just a name that seemed fitting for this—whatever it is. But I have no idea what it actually is. There's no record in the clan of anything like this."
The corner of Qing Tanwei's lip twitched, but she let the matter drop. "Domain... That makes sense. This would be a Domain of Madness, perhaps?"
Qing Muyu joined the conversation, glancing at the scene beyond the Young Master's barrier. "I'd say it should be called the Domain of Spectral Madness."
'Domain of Spectral Madness...'
The name echoed in Qing Xuanling's mind, sounding quite convincing. She sighed softly and focused her attention on her surroundings. The Domain of Spectral Madness seemed to span about a kilometer—likely ensnaring not just tournament spectators, but also unfortunate passersby.
Suddenly, Qing Xuanling narrowed her eyes. She reinforced them with Qi—a basic technique every cultivator knew—and gasped in surprise.
"I see another barrier in the distance! In the direction where the five Qi Refinement forces were!"
The news stunned everyone.
The Young Master stroked his chin. "Remarkable. I didn't expect those groups to be lucky enough to bring a barrier artifact capable of resisting mind-altering attacks."
That was the only explanation for how the other side could maintain such a barrier. Someone with a Qi refinement cultivation simply couldn't create such a powerful barrier.
It truly was incredible luck. Barrier-type artifacts were already rare in the world—especially Level 2 ones. But one with mental protection? Bringing it on this very day was undoubtedly a crazy luck.
At that moment, one of the clan members who was going to participate in the advanced league matches narrowed his eyes. "Young Master, wouldn't it be better if they could join us? From what I know, barrier artifacts usually can be moved."
The Young Master nodded. "That's true, but reaching them is complicated right now. And I doubt they'll come to us without reason. So there's really nothing we can do..."
The clan member suddenly smiled. "What if one of us goes to deliver the message?"
A solemn look appeared on the Young Master's face. "They might come for the promise of protection from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but... the danger is too great. Those ghosts seem to specifically target people who are still sane. The chances of dying are too high."
The clan member's smile widened. "Do odds matter? What's important is that if we reach them, we might escape this place. Perhaps this domain—or whatever this is—doesn't have the power to keep us here. Or at least we can try to break free by force."
Silence fell over the group. No one here was foolish. They all understood what this man intended to do.
Qing Xuanling studied him closely. He appeared to be forty, but judging by his advanced-stage cultivation, he was likely sixty or seventy. He had a noble bearing and bright eyes—someone who clearly still had much to accomplish.
'...Why?'
The Young Master sighed softly. "State your name aloud. Let everyone here remember you."
The clan member's smile vanished as he puffed out his chest, a dignified aura surrounding him.
"I am Qing Zhu, member of the twenty-sixth generation of the great Qing clan!"
The Young Master looked at Qing Zhu with respect and raised his voice. "Very well, Qing Zhu! Your contribution today will be recorded in the clan's historical annals! You're not just saving dozens of clan members—you're saving three prodigies who will become future pillars of our clan! Your contribution surpasses any reward we could possibly give!"
Qing Zhu laughed heartily. "Knowing my sacrifice will save the lives of the clan's next Foundation Establishment cultivators is reward enough! My grandchildren were born two months ago—I need good protectors for them!"
Qing Xuanling's chest tightened as she noticed Qing Zhu's gaze fall upon her. Qing Muyu and Qing Tanwei were just like her—staring fixedly at Qing Zhu.
Complex emotions tormented the hearts of these three geniuses, but no one had time to dwell on their delicate feelings.
The Young Master quickly prepared Qing Zhu for his journey to the five Qi Refinement forces' barrier, handing him a set of first-grade sword and armor from his own storage ring.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any artifacts that protect the mind, so you'll have to resist the madness with your own willpower."
Qing Zhu shook his head as he bowed. "Don't worry—you've already done more than enough for me. It's incredible enough to wield such amazing artifacts."
The Young Master smiled guiltily. "I'm sorry—this isn't the kind of task someone who's contributed so much to the clan like you should have to undertake."
Qing Zhu's eyes were serene. "Someone must do it. Besides, it's not certain I'll die. Maybe I'll reach the other barrier safely and return."
His words convinced no one. After all, Qing Zhu now wore a jade tablet around his neck containing the message the Young Master wanted delivered.
No one needed to explain why.
As Qing Zhu approached the edge of the Young Master's barrier, everyone bowed to him. Qing Xuanling and her companions bowed too—but Qing Zhu's gaze lingered especially on them.
"Please make my sacrifice worthwhile—become the pillars who will uphold the Qing clan's heaven."
Qing Xuanling's body trembled. She lifted her gaze and stared intently at Qing Zhu's face, etching his image into her memory.
Qing Zhu stopped at the barrier's edge and took a deep breath. His heart raced. It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid—but whenever panic threatened to overwhelm him, he looked up at the chaos above, where the elders fought to protect them.
If even those revered, highly-cultivated individuals could risk their lives—why couldn't he?
Qing Zhu's heart pounded as he stepped beyond the barrier and shouted:
"May the Qing clan's heaven endure for eternity!"
The moment Qing Zhu left the barrier, he clutched his head! His previously clear mind flooded with whispers of fear and worship toward a figure that had suddenly appeared in his thoughts—urging him to kneel or beg for mercy!
His heart lurched, and he bit his lip until it bled, forcibly suppressing the whispers. His gaze fixed on the five Qi Refinement forces' barrier—only a hundred meters away.
Yet at that moment, those hundred meters felt like a hundred kilometers.
He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms and ran with all his might!
Qing Xuanling and the others inside the Young Master's barrier watched Qing Zhu's progress. At first, he'd frozen immediately—alarming them—but luckily, he soon started running again.
They breathed sighs of relief. Their morale would have shattered completely if Qing Zhu hadn't managed to move at all.
But no one truly relaxed. The real danger hadn't even begun.
Qing Zhu ran as fast as he could, yet he'd only covered thirty meters in a minute. At this rate, he'd need three to four minutes to reach the other barrier.
But he couldn't do anything. The whispers were simply too sinister. If he lost his concentration for even an instant, the direction he was walking would change completely. Every step he took required intense focus.
Fortunately, he didn't encounter any major problems beyond that.
His heart calmed slightly. It seemed he might actually deliver the message in person!
"Gssshshh!"
Qing Zhu's heart skipped a beat. Right before his face, a translucent figure with only a pair of eyes suddenly appeared!
The worshipful ghosts had arrived!
Qing Zhu cursed inwardly—though he'd expected this—and quickly drew the sword given to him, slashing at the worshipful ghost! Surprisingly, the ghost shrieked loudly when the blade touched it!
A smile spread across Qing Zhu's face—he was grateful for the Young Master's gift! As promised, this sword could cut even non-physical entities!
Qing Zhu's confidence surged as he continued attacking the ghost. Strangely, each strike reduced the ghost's size by ten centimeters.
After just eight blows, the ghost shrank to half a meter.
Qing Zhu completely relaxed then, his attack speed increasing—but the worshipful ghost did something he absolutely didn't expect!
"Giayaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
The ghost released a piercing shriek that made Qing Zhu's eardrums vibrate!
He stood momentarily stunned, unsure what this scream meant. But he couldn't hesitate any longer—his mind was slowly losing its battle against the whispers. He had no time to waste.
Qing Zhu raised his sword to strike—but sharp pain erupted from behind! He half-turned, staring in disbelief at the worshipful ghost that had suddenly appeared behind him.
His heart lurched—not because of that single ghost, but because a dozen more were flying toward him!
Despair filled Qing Zhu's heart—but thinking of his newborn grandchildren, he hardened his resolve and activated the armor the Young Master had given him to maximum power. A protective layer immediately enveloped his entire body!
The ghost behind him attacked again—but he felt no pain.
However, his Qi dropped by at least five percent. He couldn't last long in this state...
'Excellent—I can't hope to reach the other barrier now, not even in death. I can only pray that I can leave my corpse far enough near their barrier to encourage them to come out and look for it. They must have seen me—they'll know I'm trying to deliver a message!'
Qing Zhu roared and charged faster, embracing death.
Back inside the Young Master's barrier, everyone's expressions darkened.
Though Qing Zhu couldn't see clearly, they could. They watched as the worshipful ghosts heading toward him numbered not just a dozen—but several dozen!
No matter how good the armor the Young Master gave Qing Zhu was, it was impossible for him to reach the other barrier under the assault of dozens of worshipful ghosts.
The Young Master's face filled with sorrow. It seemed they'd sent a Qing clan member to a meaningless death...
Qing Xuanling gritted her teeth, desperately trying to think of any way to improve Qing Zhu's situation—but it was complicated. The Young Master was using all his energy just to maintain the barrier for nearly a hundred people.
They couldn't launch long-range attacks either—the risk of the worshipful ghosts noticing the barrier and attacking it was too high. That would put them in grave danger.
Qing Xuanling's mind raced, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't find a solution that didn't end with someone dying.
'No... Then his death will be meaningless?'
Qing Xuanling's eyes filled with reluctance.
At that moment, someone stepped forward.
Everyone stared. It was a woman with a square, battle-hardened face, wearing a radiant smile.
"Qing Linlu, member of the twenty-sixth generation of the Qing clan, presents herself for service!"
Everyone looked at Qing Linlu in confusion as she suddenly shouted—but their confusion quickly turned to shock.
The Young Master's eyes widened.
Without fear, Qing Linlu charged beyond the barrier, shouting with all her might:
"May the Qing clan's heaven endure for eternity!"
Everyone was stunned. Qing Linlu's action had been utterly sudden. No one had asked her—no one had even had time to thank her for her sacrifice before she leapt to her death without hesitation.
All eyes followed the brave figure charging toward Qing Zhu's position, spear in hand. She reached him quickly, helping him withstand the pressure.
Somehow, her lack of attachment to life lessened the effect of the whispers on her! She was different from Qing Zhu, who had a message to deliver! She simply had to kill and protect!
A spark seemed to ignite at that moment.
Several more people stepped forward.
"Qing Ben..."
"Qing Ji..."
"Qing Qi..."
A dozen advanced-stage cultivators charged beyond the barrier with brilliant smiles. Their eyes—though facing almost certain death—paradoxically shone with hope for a prosperous future.
Not for themselves—but for their children, siblings, and friends still living in the clan.
Each had so much to live for. So many unfulfilled wishes that made their hearts pound with primal terror—the fear of losing life itself.
Yet strangely, their trembling hearts calmed with just one phrase:
""May the Qing clan's heaven endure for eternity!""
Their war crie seemed to shake the very heavens.
Qing Xuanling watched these figures march toward their deaths with blank eyes. If Qing Zhu's sacrifice had moved her, she now didn't even know how to feel—respect for those risking their lives, shame for not stepping forward herself, and fear that even their sacrifice might be futile...
Qing Tanwei and Qing Muyu felt exactly the same, watching these figures throw themselves like moths into flame for their future.
The Young Master stood beside them, speaking softly but clearly enough for everyone in the barrier to hear:
"Don't look away from what you're seeing right now." The Young Master's eyes were filled with pain. "This is the foundation of the Qing clan's rapid, magnificent rise. This courage, this spirit of sacrifice—it flows in our veins. So don't look away—witness the final battle of the finest warriors the Qing clan can produce!"
Qing Xuanling's gaze hardened. Though it hurt, she forced herself to watch these seniors—strangers who were still giving their lives for her.
They quickly reached Qing Zhu—but even with their support, the situation was dire. There were simply too many worshipful ghosts to block with weapons and techniques. So they chose a simpler path.
They threw themselves forward, using their own bodies as shields for Qing Zhu!
Qing Zhu's eyes reddened as he watched his clan siblings who'd come to protect him, fall one by one to the ground, forever.
Blood tears streamed down his face as he screamed in his mind: 'May the Qing clan's heaven endure for eternity!'
He chanted it like a mantra, as if it gave him strength to continue.
He was just meters from the barrier after his companions used their bodies as shields—but the worshipful ghosts' attacks intensified. Qing Zhu's body was torn by dozens of spectral claws.
A vicious smile appeared on his face. With one hand, he grabbed the jade tablet he'd been given—and with the other, he ripped off the hand holding it!
The excruciating pain nearly made him collapse—but his willpower kept him standing long enough to hurl his arm toward the barrier!
He was no longer satisfied with simply bringing his corpse near the barrier—no! He wanted the message to reach them directly! It was the least he could do after so many people had given their lives to help him!
Peace filled his eyes after the throw. He felt calm. He was sure his hand would cushion the jade tablet's fall and prevent it from breaking.
'I suppose this is where I stop...'
Qing Zhu's body collapsed to the ground, releasing a strand of spectral energy seconds later.
The ghosts dispersed after that, not sparing Qing Zhu's corpse a second glance...
Qing Xuanling watched the scene with red eyes. Thirteen clan siblings had died in less than five minutes—all suffering horrific deaths.
She took a deep breath and vowed in her heart: When she grew strong, she would repay every life-and-death debt to whoever planned this attack.
Crack!
A sound far more terrifying than thunder suddenly shook the Domain of Spectral Madness!
Qing Xuanling quickly looked up—and was stunned by the figure she saw appear.
A hot figure who had no rival, with straight fiery red hair and seductive green eyes—each adorned with a beauty mark beneath the outer corner. No matter how hard she tried, Qing Xuanling couldn't fail to recognize that figure.
'Madam Yechan!'