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In the Ancient Realm, deep within the lush Ancient Sacred Mountain Range, the entrance to the ancient tomb suddenly tore open. A terrifying pillar of energy shot out from the rift in space. As it streaked across the skies of the Ancient Realm, everything in its path—including space itself and massive mountain ranges—was reduced to dust. Even the indestructible realm barrier was blasted open with a massive hole.
The horrifying surge of energy immediately drew the attention of all powerful experts within the Ancient Tribe. Numerous figures floated in the sky, their gazes locked onto the tomb's sky domain. Even two of the three elusive Ancient Immortals appeared at the entrance to the tomb.
One of the Ancient Immortals, Gu Dao, gasped in shock. "Such terrifying energy waves—what's happening inside the tomb?"
Just then, the space fluctuated once more. A man in simple hemp robes stepped out—Gu Yuan. Standing ahead of all members of the Ancient Tribe, including the three Immortals, he stared into the torn space and murmured, "This energy... it feels so familiar."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the twisted space when suddenly, a familiar aura emerged. A familiar figure darted out—it was Gu Qingyang, who had been thrown out by Xiao Xuan.
"Qingyang, why did you come out so quickly?" a few Dou Zun experts of the Ancient Tribe asked in confusion. Participants could not re-enter the tomb once they exited—this was an extremely rare opportunity.
Gu Yuan and the three Ancient Immortals approached Gu Qingyang. With his hands behind his back, Gu Yuan calmly asked, "Qingyang, what happened?"
"Clan leader, Grand Elder, I encountered Xiao Xuan in the tomb, and he—" Gu Qingyang went on to recount everything that had occurred inside.
Hearing this, one of the Ancient Immortals furiously exclaimed, "That Xiao Xuan, how dare he! If it weren't for our Ancient Tribe's tomb, how would he have even survived until now? And now he has the nerve to threaten us! The Xiao Clan failed to earn a tomb entry spot due to their own incompetence, and now they're blaming us!"
Gu Dao also responded coldly, "Clan Leader, we should go in and eliminate Xiao Xuan before he becomes a bigger threat. The few of us, plus Gu Lie, can enter the tomb together, kill Xiao Xuan, and rescue the young lady and the others."
But Gu Yuan remained silent, sighed, and said, "It's true—I failed to uphold my promise to Xiao Xuan."
"Clan Leader, this has nothing to do with you! After the fall of the Xiao Clan, our Ancient Tribe did everything to protect a portion of their disciples, even preserving some of their bloodline. We never forcefully seized the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade despite their weakness, but instead made fair trades with cultivation techniques. We've shown them nothing but utmost benevolence!"
Everyone in the Ancient Tribe agreed—showing willingness to trade fairly with a minor clan of mere Dou Shi status was already a massive show of goodwill. Countless Dou Zun-level clans outside begged for relationships with the Ancient Tribe, offering free resources and even women, yet the Ancient Tribe never gave them the time of day.
"There's no need to argue. I'll go bring back the descendant of the Xiao Clan."
With that, Gu Yuan didn't give the others a chance to object. He set off for the Xingyun Pavilion in search of Xiao Yan. He had learned about Xiao Yan from information revealed by Ling Quan—who had been crushed by Xiao Yan in the Dou Sheng ruins—and through Gu Xun'er.
In the Xingyun Mountain Range, the guardian formation of Xingyun Pavilion had already been shattered by the experts of the Demon-Slaying Alliance. The entire pavilion now lay exposed before the alliance's members.
"This is your last chance. Hand over Xiao Yan, the Little Doctor Fairy, and Yao Tianhuo!"
Standing at the front of the Demon-Slaying Alliance was one of the Spirit Palace's Second Heavenly Venerates, the Bone Ghost Saint. With hands behind his back and an icy expression, he coldly declared their demands. He had personally destroyed Xingyun Pavilion's defensive array earlier.
Yao Chen soared into the sky, standing before everyone in Xingyun Pavilion. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Bone Ghost Saint! Xingyun Pavilion has absolutely no connection to that devil! You people storm in, arresting without cause—have you no shame?!"
"No connection?" Bone Ghost raised an eyebrow and sneered. "Yao Chen, we've known each other for years, and now you lie to my face?"
As his words fell, a man stepped forward. His appearance was barely above average in terms of handsomeness—this man was the root of the entire incident, the informant: Song Qing.
With a mocking smile, Song Qing glanced toward Xiao Yan, whose forehead veins were bulging with fury, and cupped his fists respectfully. "Elders, I personally witnessed Xiao Yan calling that devil 'Big Brother' during the events at the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain Range. Xiao Yan is an honorary elder of the Pill Tower. I struggled for a long time before exposing this, worried it might tarnish the Pill Tower's name. But considering the countless lives lost to that devil in the Bone Mountain Range, I made up my mind. As long as that devil lives, not just Central Plains, but all of Dou Qi Continent may fall into chaos."
"I, Song Qing, swear on my path as an alchemist: if what I said is false, may my alchemy never progress again!"
Hearing those words, Xiao Yan's eyes turned blood-red as he glared at Song Qing. For the first time in his life, he was utterly disgusted—he wanted nothing more than to kill someone on the spot.
"Yao Chen, hand them over."
Another figure stepped out from the Demon-Slaying Alliance—a woman whose aura was terrifyingly powerful, almost equal to Bone Ghost Saint. She looked to be around thirty, dressed in an elegant palace gown, with flowing teal hair and mature beauty.
She was one of Yao Chen's former lovers—Qing Yi, the Supreme Elder of the Flower Sect, once renowned in her youth as the "Blue Fairy." If not for the protection of Qing Yi and Xuan Yi, even Yao Chen would not have escaped death this time.
Looking at Qing Yi, Yao Chen's eyes flickered with emotion—but his voice was firm: "I, Yao Chen, will never abandon my disciple! If you want Xiao Yan, then step over my corpse first!"
Just then, the overcast sky split apart. From the shattered void, a colossal black hand—formed entirely of Dou Qi and spanning tens of thousands of meters—descended, enveloping the entire Xingyun Mountain Range.
"He's finally here."
Hiding in the shadows and growing impatient, the Void Swallowing Flame's eyes lit up. In a flash, he dashed through the shattered space toward Qian Renhan's location.
"Big Brother!" Xiao Yan looked up, eyes glowing, at the massive black hand that blocked out the sun. He couldn't be more familiar with the owner of this power.
"Xiao Yan (and Yao Chen)... are saved."
Just as Qing Yi, Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, Xuan Yi, and the others thought the crisis was over and the battle could be avoided, an overwhelming suction force suddenly swept over not only the Demon-Slaying Alliance but even the unrelated onlookers who had come to spectate.
Everyone's pupils constricted in terror.
The black hand in the sky was like a black hole, devouring all clouds within a radius of ten thousand miles. Countless Dou Huang were sucked in like shrimp, followed by Dou Zong, Dou Zun, and even Half-Saints.
"No one is getting away."
Beneath the Nine Nether Cold Spring, Qian Renhan showed no mercy—he intended to annihilate everyone who came with the Demon-Slaying Alliance. Whether Xiao Yan or Yao Chen had old flames among them was irrelevant. If there had once been kindness, he'd spare their lovers once. Yao Chen had already been spared once in the Soul-Reaping Mountains. As for Xiao Yan—no such luck.
(End of Chapter)