Translator: CinderTL
"Are you going?"
Lu Wanzhe couldn't grasp the danger involved. She believed that with the Lu Clan's backing, no one in the world would dare to harm her.
"No, and I strongly advise you not to go either," Fang Qingge said, frowning.
"Tch, fine. Just wait until I find Xu Sanyan and snatch the secret realm from him. Then we'll see what you have to say."
Fang Qingge almost thought he'd misheard. His voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief. "You're planning to steal from Xu Sanyan?"
"A mere demonfolk from the demonic path? What's so scary about that?" Lu Wanzhe scoffed.
"Mere...?" Fang Qingge didn't know what to say. Was she fearless? Or just foolish?
"Besides my brother, my Second Uncle is going too. He's at the Peak Stage of the Soul Refining Realm. No matter how strong Xu Sanyan is, what can he do?" Lu Wanzhe declared confidently.
Fang Qingge breathed a small sigh of relief. He'd heard of Lu Wanzhe's Second Uncle—a man of considerable strength and steady demeanor. With him overseeing things, major problems seemed unlikely.
"It's not just our Lu Clan," Lu Wanzhe said. "I heard the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect has already left, and the Wei Clan and Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple have also sent people. Senior Brother Fang, if you want to go, you can join us."
Fang Qingge paused, considering silently for a moment. "I'll discuss it with Martial Uncle and decide then."
"Hurry, then! We're setting out at dawn tomorrow."
"Alright."
Fang Qingge nodded, watching Lu Wanzhe leave before turning to sit in his chair, pondering the possibility of Xu Sanyan heading to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains.
For Xu Sanyan, the Chaotic Cloud Mountains were indeed his best option: chaotic and lawless, making it easy to hide, and not too far from the Mist Sea.
Fang Qingge turned to Luo Qingwei, pondering for a moment before asking, "Qingwei, what are your plans?"
The Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect, where Luo Qingwei belonged, was the closest and most convenient route to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains.
Luo Qingwei shook her head. "I'm not going. I need to return my brother's remains to the mountain gate first."
Fang Qingge nodded. "That's the right thing to do."
Meanwhile,
Xu Sanyan was hurrying through the forest, clutching the secret realm fruit that radiated a faint, gray glow. He dared not fly, knowing it would make him too conspicuous.
He didn't know where he was going, only that he needed to get as far from the Mist Sea as possible, and quickly. The area was undoubtedly swarming with search parties. If Zuoqiu Zhen had found him, others could too.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a dark, shadowy light streaked from the side, aimed directly at Xu Sanyan's head. The attack was so swift he barely had time to react.
Xu Sanyan's heart leaped. At the last possible moment, he twisted his body violently, the dark light grazing his forehead and drawing a thin line of blood.
Huff...
Xu Sanyan's heart pounded wildly. That was close!
Just a hair's breadth from death!
"Senior Brother Xu's reflexes are impressive." Eight or nine figures emerged from the forest, led by Tu Wanshan.
Beside Tu Wanshan stood several elders from the Blood Refinement Branch, all at least at the Perfected Dao Seeking Realm. Among them were three whose cultivation levels Xu Sanyan couldn't discern, suggesting they were at least at the Soul Refining Realm.
"Tu Wanshan?" Xu Sanyan summoned his great halberd with a wave of his hand.
"Heh heh, Senior Brother Xu, you certainly kept us waiting! Looks like my guess was right—you were indeed heading to the Chaotic Cloud Mountains."
A smug grin spread across Tu Wanshan's face as his gaze fell upon the secret realm fruit in Xu Sanyan's hand, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
This is an independent secret realm! Its value is beyond measure!
"Heh heh... Are you all rushing to your deaths?" Xu Sanyan chuckled, though his eyes remained icy. The earlier attack had nearly killed him, and his heart still pounded with lingering fear.
"Enough talk. Hand over the secret realm, and I might let you leave. How's that?" Tu Wanshan's expression brimmed with arrogance. He recalled how Xu Sanyan had once tricked him into believing he would trade the fruit for a flying boat. Tu Wanshan had been overjoyed at the time, only to have the bastard flee the moment he turned his back.
Now that he had cornered him, he would claim both the treasure and Xu Sanyan's life!
Xu Sanyan's eyes darted around, counting nine opponents including Tu Wanshan. A direct confrontation would be suicidal; his only chance lay in seizing an opportunity to escape.
Tu Wanshan's patience was wearing thin. Multiple factions were now vying for the secret realm, and he needed to secure it quickly. Without further hesitation, he waved his hand and barked,
"Kill him!"
Whoosh—
Beside Tu Wanshan, an old man in black robes gazed at the secret realm's fruits, a flicker of greed flashing through his eyes. Such a once-in-a-millennium opportunity... he wanted it too.
Wealth stirs the human heart, especially when it comes to such a priceless treasure. This might be his only chance in a lifetime—miss it, and it's gone forever. He had to seize it for himself!
Though he served under Venerable He Yu, he was still a cultivator seeking immortality.
But the immediate priority was securing the fruits. With a flick of his wrist, a ball of dark energy coalesced in his palm, which he abruptly unleashed.
"Hah!"
Xu Sanyan roared, leaping aside to evade the dark energy. Simultaneously, a crimson mist erupted around him, its metallic stench filling the air as it enveloped him completely.
Dao body manifestation!
He struck with a lethal move from the start. Outnumbered and outmatched, he couldn't afford hesitation.
"Hmph, you think you're the only one with a dao body?"
An elder beside Tu Wanshan, skilled in close combat, waved his sleeves. A flash of light pierced through the air, and a dark green spike shot forth, hurtling into the Crimson Mist.
A cyan figure followed closely behind, diving into the mist after the spike.
Clang!
The Dark Halberd flashed, shattering the incoming spike. A crimson hand emerged from the Crimson Mist, colliding with the green figure.
Bang!
In an instant, the emerald-green figure was sent hurtling backward at even greater speed, crashing heavily into a tree. With a sharp crack, a tree as thick as a man's torso snapped in two.
The figure's momentum remained unchecked, smashing through seven or eight more massive trees before finally coming to a halt.
Pfft!
The emerald-green figure, resembling a vine spirit in human form—slender and graceful—lay on the ground, coughing up blood. A deep dent marred the bark-like scales on its chest.
Tu Wanshan's pupils constricted as he turned sharply toward Xu Sanyan, his heart pounding with shock.
That elder was at the Initial Stage of the Soul Refining Realm, a master of close combat! How could he be so severely injured in a single strike?!
Xu Sanyan's pitch-black eyes swept across the crowd, a hint of surprise flickering within them. His strength had surged far beyond his expectations!
After receiving the Dog God's blessing, not only had his physical power skyrocketed, but the potency of his dao body had also increased dramatically.
At this rate, killing them might not be impossible after all...
"Attack him together! Kill him!"
Tu Wanshan's urgency grew. With a wave of his hand, he produced a small wooden figurine. Biting the tip of his tongue, he spat a mouthful of vital blood onto the figurine, which instantly burst into flames.
Though Xu Sanyan didn't know what Tu Wanshan was doing, he understood he couldn't let him prepare undisturbed. With a flourish of his arm, a layer of bloody mist enveloped the halberd's blade, which streaked through the air with a crimson glow, aiming straight for Tu Wanshan's heart.
"Stop him!" Tu Wanshan roared, channeling all his spiritual power into the wooden figure. The flames burned even more fiercely.
Gradually, a dark, oppressive aura emanated from the burning wooden figure. The black-robed old man's eyes narrowed—he recognized this aura all too well...
It was Venerable He Yu's aura!
The holy son had somehow managed to borrow the Hall Master's power.
It might only be a clone puppet, but even a clone puppet of Venerable He Yu could easily suppress the entire battlefield. If that happened, there would be no chance of obtaining the secret realm fruit.
With this thought, the black-robed old man subtly slowed his advance, watching as the crimson light hurtled toward Tu Wanshan.
As a Peak Stage Soul Refinement cultivator—the highest cultivation level present—he had been confident in controlling the situation. But with the emergence of Venerable He Yu's clone puppet, that certainty had vanished...
(End of the Chapter)
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