Chapter 246

In the grotto at the back hill.

Xuanyuan Mo led Duanmu Xi and Bai He through various mechanisms and quickly got out of the dangerous cave.

Duanmu Xi turned to look at the ruins and said with a frown, “Snow, will the cave collapse if you keep doing this?”

Bai He also glanced at the cave full of ruins tacitly. He finally knew how competent Xuanyuan Mo was. No matter how difficult the mechanisms and formations were on the way, Xuanyuan Mo still could deal with them with ease. With a wave of sleeves, the mechanisms and formations would be destroyed. Bai He and Duanmu Xi, who knew about mechanism and formation, felt really embarrassed!

Xuanyuan Mo glimpsed the cave casually and said lightly, “It will be even better if it collapses. If this place collapses, the old guys you’re looking for will crawl out themselves. Then, we won’t need to bother to look for them.”

The corner of Duanmu Xi’s eye twitched, “In this case, no need to look for them. Even if you find them, they won’t agree to help.”

Xuanyuan Mo arched his brows and said disdainfully, “It doesn’t matter. Only a few chains. If you didn’t insist on asking those old guys for help, maybe I would have opened the chains.”

Looking at Xuanyuan Mo’s arrogant appearance, Duanmu Xi nodded resignedly and said, “Yes, you’re the best. Let’s go! We must find the eight elders before dawn.” Then, she dragged him inside before Xuanyuan Mo spoke.

With Xuanyuan Mo’s help, they reached the innermost depth of the grotto, but a white enchantment got in their way.

Seeing the white enchantment, Xuanyuan Mo said nothing and directly ripped open the white enchantment.

Duanmu Xi and Bai He were dumbstruck again to see the scene. This was the first time that they had seen someone could rip open the enchantment in this way. And it was a white enchantment.

“Shall we go inside?” Seeing their stupefied expressions, Xuanyuan Mo was obviously not patient.

“Yes.” The two of them came to their senses and nodded at once. Then, they entered the enchantment without hesitation.

Upon entering the enchantment, they were bounced out by a rush of potent mysterious Qi.

Xuanyuan Mo immediately flew forward to catch Duanmu Xi. Upon landing, the three of them heard an old voice coming from the top of the cave, “Go back to where you come from. Outsiders are not welcome here.”

Duanmu Xi looked around and said to the dimly discernible voice, “We’ve disturbed your cultivation. I’m sorry, but we won’t or can’t leave.” Then, she looked around but heard no reply.

Duanmu Xi raised her head again, “This time, we’re here to ask you to help my master. I have the Purple Hell Stone.” After saying that, Duanmu Xi lifted the Purple Hell Stone on her neck.

“Purple Hell Stone?” The old voice sounded again. Then, a grey-haired old man suddenly appeared in front of them.

Upon seeing Duanmu Xi’s appearance, the old man was shocked and said dully, “Celestial Maiden…”

Duanmu Xi frowned subconsciously, “I’m sorry you’re mistaken. I’m not the Celestial Maiden.”

Xuanyuan Mo and Bai He also looked at the old man in confusion.

While the atmosphere entered into a stalemate, seven more old people got out of the enchantment. They were all grey-haired. Judging from their appearances, they might be a lot older than Duanmu Xi’s chief master and second master. They seemed to be the eight elders she was looking for.

“Celestial Maiden? Are you mistaken…” The elder who spoke just stopped talking and looked shocked upon seeing Duanmu Xi.

The other elders also turned around and stared at Duanmu Xi in shock.

“She’s the Celestial Maiden…”

“Is she really the Celestial Maiden? Am I mistaken…”

“She’s the Celestial Maiden. The Celestial Maiden really has appeared again…”

Seeing the eight strange old people staring at Duanmu Xi as if a dog met a bone, Xuanyuan Mo felt disgruntled and directly stood in front of Duanmu Xi. He glared at the old men and said, “Are you done watching?”

The eight elders paid no heed to Xuanyuan Mo and walked across him to Duanmu Xi.

“Miss, what’s your name?”

“Where do you live? Got any family?”

“Miss…”

Duanmu Xi looked at the elders’ fawning faces and felt a bit frightened. What was going on? Why did she have a sense of foreboding?

Xuanyuan Mo and Bai He also frowned and looked at the elders warily.

“Ahem…” One of the elders in white saw Duanmu Xi stare at them in confusion and immediately stopped the other elders, “Mind your manners.”

The other elders all stopped obediently and remained quiet. They just stared at Duanmu Xi.

As the elders stopped surrounding her, Duanmu Xi let out a sigh of relief.

The elders in white looked at Duanmu Xi’s exquisite face, their eyes flickering. Duanmu Xi looked exactly the same as the person in the painting. Even her eyes were the same, which were also profoundly purple. It seemed that they could take in souls and be infatuating.

“Are you saying you’re here to ask us to save your master?” His voice was calm rather than oily and fawning.

Duanmu Xi was slightly dazed to hear that and then nodded, “Yes, I hope you can help rescue my master.”

The elder in white arched his brows, “Who is your master?”

“My master is Mei Luo. She gave the Purple Hell Stone to me.” Duanmu Xi took the necklace off her neck and passed it to the elder in white.

The elder in white looked at the Purple Hell Stone in Duanmu Xi’s hand in surprise. Even the Purple Hell Stone had been sired to her. Was this kismet?

The other elders were also shocked to see the Purple Hell Stone in Duanmu Xi’s hand. She must be the person they had been waiting for!

“She’s not Mei Luo. She’s Mu Wan, the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region.” The elder in white’s voice was still calm.

“The sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region?” Duanmu Xi frowned and looked confused. Wasn’t the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region Liqing? Was her third master the last sacred maiden? She had known her third master must have something to do with the Wilderness Holy Region. She had thought of countless possibilities but never thought of this possibility.

The elder in white saw Duanmu Xi’s confused face and took the Purple Hell Stone in Duanmu Xi’s hand, “The Purple Hell Stone is the token of all sacred maidens. It’s the best proof.”

The other elders also nodded.

Duanmu Xi didn’t think much about it. Then, she just looked at the elder in white and said, “Since my master is the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region, I hope you can help rescue my master.” The sacred maiden must hold a high position here. Supposedly, they would save her third master!

The elder in white slightly smiled, “We can help you, but you must agree on one condition.”

“What condition?” Duanmu Xi asked without hesitation.

The elder in white just cut to the chase, “To be the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region.” Since this was kismet, they would follow it then!

The elders also nodded, “Yeah, to be the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Region.” It was so smart of the elder in white to make the woman the sacred maiden and then Celestial Maiden.

Duanmu Xi frowned and felt confused about being asked to be the sacred maiden by them. They just said her third master was their sacred maiden. Why did they ask her to be the sacred maiden now?

While the elders were expecting Duanmu Xi’s answer, Xuanyuan Mo said, “She won’t be your sacred maiden.”

Instantly, the elders all glared at Xuanyuan Mo.

Xuanyuan Mo paid no heed to them and directly dragged Duanmu Xi back. Bai He also followed them.

Seeing that Duanmu Xi was leaving, the elders were anxious.

“Don’t you want to save your master?” The elder in white looked at Duanmu Xi’s back and slightly narrowed his eyes. There was no trace of anxiety on his stern face.

Duanmu Xi stopped, her eyes flickering. How could she not want to save her third master? If she didn’t want to save her third master, she wouldn’t come to the grotto.

Feeling Duanmu Xi’s hesitation, Xuanyuan Mo got nervous and tightened his grip on Duanmu Xi’s hand, “Trust me. I can help your master out.”

Staring at Xuanyuan Mo’s serious face, Duanmu Xi got relieved at once and slightly cracked a smile, “I trust you.” She believed Snow could do it for sure.

Xuanyuan Mo smiled. Again, he held Duanmu Xi and walked forward.

“Think carefully. If you leave now, even if your master is rescued, she will die inevitably.” The voice of the elder in white was still composed. He wasn’t threatening but his voice contained an intimidatory sense.

Duanmu Xi stopped again and turned to look at the elder in white, “What do you mean?”

“Huh!” The elder in white sneered, “Do you think there are no rules in the Wilderness Holy Hall? As the sacred maiden of the Wilderness Holy Hall, Mu Wan escaped willfully. She must be burned to death. So, even if you rescue her, she’ll still die.”

Upon hearing that, Duanmu Xi and Xuanyuan Mo were both shocked. In particular, Xuanyuan Mo’s face was utterly sulky.

“Since I can help her out, I can keep her safe.” Xuanyuan Mo’s voice was so cold that the whole cave became a bit colder.

The elder in white curled his lips again, “I don’t know how capable you are, but I believe that the sacred maiden who passes the tests of the divine stone and the sacred realm will be responsible for her behaviors.”

Xuanyuan Mo frowned. If she wanted, he could protect her. However, what if she was willing to be punished?

Duanmu Xi’s heart skipped a beat. She knew her third master’s temper most. Probably, she would accept being punished just as the elder in white said.

After being silent for a while, Duanmu Xi looked at the elder in white and said, “So, my master won’t die as long as I become your sacred maiden?”