Junior Sister is skilled in subduing demons.

Chapter 227 Night Watch over the Underworld
The night was as dark as ink, splashed onto the blood-red rock walls of the Valley of the Dead.

After a day of fierce fighting, the valley entrance echoed with mournful cries, the corpses of demon soldiers piled up like mountains, and dark green demon blood flowed down the cracks in the rocks, gleaming eerily in the moonlight.

The remaining allied soldiers leaned against the rock wall, panting. The blood on their armor had congealed into clumps, but their eyes were still fixed on the valley. In the darkness, hordes of demonic soldiers were surging in from the demonic passage. Their bluish-black figures wriggled in the night like an endless stream of poisonous ants.

The monk Tongda leaned against a broken stele, unaware that his prayer beads had slipped from his fingers. Overwhelmed by drowsiness, his eyelids drooped, but he eventually succumbed to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, the six-legged beast Congcong, exhausted from continuous battles, was also fast asleep in a nearby haystack.

Zi Lingxuan gently draped a robe over the monk Tongda, then turned to Shen Anzhi, her voice hoarse: "Anzhi, we've finished our water..."

Shen Anzhi's heart tightened. His gaze swept over the chapped lips of the crowd, and he suddenly remembered the Demon-Refining Gourd hanging at his waist. This gourd could purify evil spirits and perhaps purify the water of the Yellow Spring Valley.

She immediately took down the gourd and walked quickly to the puddle by the valley. The water in the puddle was dark red, with small fragments of demonic soldiers floating on it, and it exuded a faint malevolent aura. It was the Yellow Spring water that no one dared to drink.

"I'll try purifying it with the Demon Refining Gourd." Shen Anzhi brought the Demon Refining Gourd close to the water's surface, channeling spiritual energy into it with his fingertips. A pale golden light immediately emanated from the gourd's mouth. The light enveloped the puddle, and the malevolent energy in the water was gradually absorbed into the gourd, turning the dark red water into clear water.

But when she handed the purified water to Zi Lingxuan, everyone backed away. Rumor had it that drinking the water of Huangquan Valley would prevent one from being reincarnated for nine lifetimes, and no one dared to risk their lives.

Seeing the hesitant looks in everyone's eyes, Shen Anzhi made up his mind, raised the gourd, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

The cool water flowed down her throat without causing any discomfort; instead, it carried a gentle, spiritual warmth. She smiled and handed the gourd to Zi Lingxuan: "It's alright, everyone can drink without worry."

Seeing that Shen Anzhi was safe and sound, everyone was relieved and gathered around. Zi Lingxuan took the gourd, fed it to the unconscious monk Tongda a few mouthfuls, and then handed it to Rimai Yongga.

The clear spring water filled their throats, and their tired bodies seemed to be infused with a bit of vitality. The soldiers' eyes gradually regained their sparkle, and their strength slowly returned.

"We'll storm into the inner valley and destroy the demonic passage!" Shen Anzhi gripped his demon-slaying sword, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Rimai Yongga stopped her, his tone grave: "Anzhi, no! The inner valley connects to the Dark Demon Realm, and only cultivators with a thousand years of cultivation can resist the demonic energy there. Our current task is to guard the valley entrance; reinforcements will definitely come."

Shen Anzhi gazed into the deep darkness of the valley and finally nodded. She knew that Rimai Yongga was right; rushing into the Demon Realm now would only result in a pointless sacrifice.

Beside the passage outside the Valley of the Underworld, General Black Python paced back and forth anxiously, while the Demon Lord of the Realm stood on a black boulder, surrounded by demonic energy, his eyes sinister.

"That old scoundrel Chief Rimai dared to send men to block this place!" The voice of the Demon Realm Celestial Venerable was filled with rage: "The army can't deploy and is stuck in this narrow passage. If this continues, the Go people of Qiang City will be completely wiped out!"

The Black Python General lowered his head, not daring to speak. He recalled the scene of "killing" Shen Anzhi during the day, and a sense of unease suddenly rose in his heart. That girl's demon-slaying sword was too strange; could it be...?

"Don't stand there! Attack immediately, you must break through the valley entrance!" the Demon Lord roared. General Black Python dared not hesitate, gripped his bone staff, and led a squad of demon soldiers toward the valley entrance.

The battle erupted suddenly in the dead of night. General Black Python's demonic energy surged, and with a swing of his bone staff, dozens of demonic thorns shot towards the allied soldiers. Many soldiers, unable to dodge in time, were pierced through the chest by the thorns. He was wreaking havoc, and just as he was feeling triumphant, a golden light suddenly attacked from the side…

"The Demon-Slaying Sword of Splitting Light!"

General Black Python turned his head sharply at the sound and saw Shen Anzhi holding the Demon-Slaying Sword, standing on a rock not far away. The golden light on the sword was so bright that he couldn't open his eyes.

"You...you're still alive!" General Black Python was terrified. He clearly remembered snapping the girl's neck, how could this be...?

Shen Anzhi sneered, and the Demon-Slaying Sword shone with golden light once more: "You managed to escape by luck last time, but you won't be so lucky this time!" With that, he charged towards the Black Python General.

General Black Python looked at the gleaming Demon-Slaying Sword and recalled the fear of being restrained by it. He dared not linger in battle, turned into a black gust of wind, and fled back to the Demon Realm Passage in a sorry state.

When the demon soldiers saw their leader flee, they were thrown into chaos. The allied soldiers seized the opportunity to counterattack and quickly drove the demon soldiers back.

After the battle, Shen Anzhi returned to the puddle and used the Demon Refining Gourd to purify the spring water. She filled the gourd with water, one pot after another, and handed it to the wounded soldiers. Seeing the smiles on everyone's faces after drinking the clean water, she felt gratified.

Moonlight bathed her, and the golden light of the Demon-Slaying Sword intertwined with the glow of the Demon-Refining Gourd, creating a barrier of hope in this blood-red Yellow Spring Valley.

Inside the Demon Realm Passage, the Demon Realm Celestial Venerable trembled with rage as he looked at the Black Python General who had escaped back: "Useless! You couldn't even handle a little girl, and you still want to rebuild your primordial spirit?"

General Black Python lowered his head, not daring to refute, but he was filled with fear of Shen Anzhi. He knew that as long as Shen Anzhi and the Demon-Slaying Sword were still there, breaking through the Yellow Spring Valley would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Meanwhile, the allied soldiers at the valley entrance drank the purified spring water, and their fatigue gradually dissipated.

They huddled together, listening to the distant roars of the demon soldiers, their eyes growing ever more determined. As long as they held this place, the Qiang city would be without the demon soldiers' aid, and the Qiang tribe warriors would surely defeat the Ge people.

The Valley of the Underworld was deathly silent after the battle. Shen Anzhi sat alone on the highest peak, his black robe stained with demonic blood that had congealed into scabs.

She gazed towards the distant Qiang city, where flames soared into the sky and the sounds of battle could be faintly heard. Her brows furrowed, and her fingertips unconsciously traced the Demon-Slaying Sword. She suddenly thought of Lingjizi, wondering if the reclusive Taoist was still safe and sound, and whether he had led the Bashu allied forces to repel the demonic soldiers attacking Qiang city. She also thought of the bamboo weaving old man, the one who had given her the bamboo worm pills and the divine beast bamboo weaving in the bamboo forest—though he hadn't left the bamboo forest. And what of her rebellious pet, Tuantuan—had it returned to Wolonggang? But what worried her most was Ge Wensong, the boy who had promised to meet her "at the summit" of Huangshan in Qiang city—had he returned to Huangshan now? Had he also embarked on his mission…?

A gentle evening breeze ruffled her disheveled hair. Her eyes were filled with worry as she whispered, "You must all be safe..."