Xixi is critically ill!
The news sent blood rushing to Ye Chu’s head, and his eyes turned red. The image of Xixi flashed through his mind, recalling the sight of that girl smiling brightly, trembling with fear yet forcing herself to enter the snake pit alongside him just to stop the golden doll from tormenting Ye Chu.
Even though Xixi had been trembling inside at that time, she had endured her fear to accompany him. In that moment, Ye Chu had decided that Xixi was worth protecting for the rest of his life.
Yet now, the only news he received was that she was critically ill.
“Blood! That is right! Blood can save Xixi!” Ye Chu suddenly understood. He grabbed Lin Wen’s shoulders and shouted, “Have the golden doll and Ou Yi returned to Qingmi Mountain?”
Lin Wen felt Ye Chu’s nails piercing his shoulders, staining his clothes with blood. Yet he could only grit his teeth and endure the agonising pain as he replied, “The news from outside is that the golden doll has already rushed back. As for Ou Yi, there is no word on him.”
Hearing that the golden doll had rushed back, Ye Chu felt a slight relief. That fellow had collected quite a bit of strong cultivators’ blood, which should be enough to help Xixi hold on for a while.
However, Xixi’s constitution was far too terrifying, and the blood the golden doll brought back might not be enough to suppress it. Thinking of this, a cold gleam appeared in Ye Chu’s eyes. He released his grip on Lin Wen and asked, “How much of the Path of Prodigies is left?”
“There are still thirty seven cities ahead!” Lin Wen replied. “The Path of Prodigies has forty nine cities in total.”
“Thirty seven cities!” Ye Chu muttered to himself. That was an extremely long distance. Moreover, the cultivators ahead grew stronger with each city, making it immensely difficult to traverse the entire path.
If he did not possess the sacred liquid, and if he avoided making enemies, Ye Chu could actually pass through very quickly. But with the sacred liquid in his possession, even if he did not seek trouble, trouble would inevitably seek him.
Thinking of this, Ye Chu could not help but turn his gaze towards the way he had come.
“Xixi cannot wait. I must get the blood to her as soon as possible.” Ye Chu gritted his teeth and looked towards the city gate at the entrance.
Ye Chu took step after step towards the city gate. Seeing this, Lin Wen froze for a moment before his expression changed drastically. Ignoring the severe pain in his shoulders, he swiftly moved to block Ye Chu’s path and shouted, “Senior brother! You cannot turn back on the Path of Prodigies. Turning back means certain death!”
“Move aside!” Ye Chu told Lin Wen. Turning back was the fastest way out of here.
“Senior brother…” Lin Wen was terrified. He tried to hold Ye Chu back, refusing to let him take such a risk. The Path of Prodigies had a strict rule against turning back. Anyone who did so could be killed by any cultivator on the path, and even veterans were exempt from the restriction against intervening.
There were so many powerful figures on the Path of Prodigies. If even the veterans could join the hunt, who could possibly withstand them?
If Ye Chu turned back now, he would face overwhelming odds. Most importantly, he carried the sacred liquid, which would provoke countless cultivators to act. Retreating would mean facing endless ambushes and assassinations.
Lin Wen clung to Ye Chu, desperately trying to stop him from risking his life. Taking this route truly left no chance of survival.
Who would dare challenge the rules of the Path of Prodigies? Throughout history, how many had dared to take the backward route? Such legends did exist, but those individuals had all become peerless existences. Even though Ye Chu was formidable, he could not compare to them.
“This is only the twelfth city. The path ahead is not particularly strong yet. Even if I turn back, I should not face overly powerful attacks,” Ye Chu said.
“It is not like that!” Lin Wen replied. “Even if the path ahead is not strong, who can guarantee that the guardians are weak?”
But Ye Chu completely ignored Lin Wen’s words and strode towards the gate. Watching Ye Chu reach the threshold and prepare to step out, Lin Wen collapsed to the ground, his face turning deathly pale. “It is over!”
Ye Chu walked towards the gate, intending to leave. Yet he was blocked by a group of armoured soldiers. “This is the entrance! The forward gate lies to the north!”
The Path of Prodigies only had two city gates, one for entering and one for exiting. Ye Chu was currently attempting to use the entrance gate.
Ye Chu paid the soldiers no mind and continued forward.
“This gate is for incoming travellers. Turning back on the Path of Prodigies is forbidden. You have taken the wrong way. The correct route is to the north.” The soldier still believed Ye Chu had simply made a mistake and offered a reminder, as no one actually believed anyone would dare to go backwards.
Ignoring their words, Ye Chu stepped directly through the gate. He moved quickly. When soldiers stepped in his way, he did not stop.
Ye Chu’s behaviour finally made the soldiers realise the situation. They exchanged glances, each seeing shock in the other’s eyes. One of them roared, “Stop right there! Do not ruin yourself!”
Finishing his words, several soldiers raised their spears, pointing their weapons at Ye Chu in warning.
“Get out of my way!” Ye Chu shouted angrily, his eyes turning bloodshot. Anyone who blocked his path was as good as Xixi’s murderer. At this moment, Ye Chu was filled with killing intent.
This scene also alerted the cultivators in all directions. They stared blankly at the sight, rubbing their eyes vigorously before finally believing that someone was truly forcing their way through the gate to go backwards.
“Damn! Has this lad gone mad? Going backwards on the Path of Prodigies, is he not just seeking death?”
“Looks like he is truly tired of living! Wait, why does he look somewhat like that recently famous figure?”
“Yes! It is Ye Chu! Damn, it really is him. What is he trying to do? Is he going backwards?”
“Good heavens… Disappeared for two months, and the moment he returns he makes such a bold move?”
“……”
The crowd chattered endlessly, feeling that Ye Chu was incredibly domineering. After disappearing for two months, the moment he appeared in public view again, he arrogantly forced his way through the gate to go backwards. This went far beyond mere arrogance.
“Is this fellow really going to do something that could stop our hearts?”
Everyone watched Ye Chu. At this moment, his imposing presence erupted, and the terrifying pressure forced several Xuanming realm soldiers to tremble, unable to even hold their spears properly.
“This young master does not wish to kill, but you had best not push me!”
“You… you…” Several soldiers forced themselves to muster some courage and shouted, “Do you even know the rule that forbids turning back on the Path of Prodigies?”
“That is not your concern!” Ye Chu’s pressure bore down. The soldier instantly fell to his knees, his face turning deathly pale with a heavy thud.
Ye Chu ignored him and stepped out through the city gate.
This scene left the crowd utterly stunned, each one staring blankly at that imposing back.
It was not until Ye Chu walked beyond the city walls that the crowd finally reacted. “Damn! Good heavens! He actually went backwards!”
“What is arrogance, what is boldness, what is fearlessness? Ye Chu has just given a perfect demonstration!”
The soldiers finally recovered some of their strength and shouted, “Sound the gate bells and alert the entire Path of Prodigies! Someone is forcing their way through the gate, breaking the rules by going backwards. Let every cultivator on the path rise up and hunt him down!”
The roar of the soldiers drained the little strength Lin Wen had just regained, causing him to collapse completely to the ground. “It really is over!”