Ancestor Tian Shan did not even glance at Yun Dehe's fleeing figure, her gaze fixed firmly on the bloody aura surrounding Hao Yinqin.
"Merely at the early stage of Divine Transformation, yet you dare speak to me like this? Your power is impressive. I, your Ancestor, have taken a liking to it!"
Hao Yinqin licked his lips, his eyes burning with eagerness.
"So it is the mid-stage Divine Transformation Ancestor of Miao Yun Sect. A pity it isn't the Ancestor of Wuxiang Sect, the number one sect. You Tian Shan old crone, die!"
His voice turned vicious and sharp. Ancestor Tian Shan shoved aside Xiao Fengyi and the other four, striding forward to face Hao Yinqin alone.
Lin Fang watched Yun Dehe's retreating back, her eyes full of resentment. "Let me go drag him back!"
Xiao Fengyi hesitated but did not stop Lin Fang as she flew after him.
Yun Dehe had chased after the transmission talisman for nearly a li before he finally intercepted it.
"As the sect master of a whole sect, if I go running to ask Fairy Ranran for help at the first sign of trouble, how am I supposed to hold my head high before her?"
Muttering to himself, he gripped the talisman tightly.
Lin Fang, having swallowed some unknown pill, her body surging with power, quickly caught up with Yun Dehe.
"So the sect master of Yun Gu Sect is nothing but a coward. If not for us inviting Ancestor Tian Shan, I would never have known what sort of man you really are!"
She unleashed a torrent of scolding.
Yun Dehe turned, glaring at her with defiance.
"You elders of Miao Yun Sect are always so overbearing with words. I see your sect is nothing special. As for that so-called Tianshan Ancestor, whether she can defeat Hao Yinqin is still uncertain!"
Lin Fang's face darkened. "You may doubt us, you may doubt Elder Xiao, but you absolutely must not doubt Ancestor Tian Shan!"
Yun Dehe was stunned for a moment, then, catching sight of the belated arrival of Xiao Fengyi, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Since Elder Lin says so, then I suppose I have no choice but to trust in Ancestor Tian Shan. Elder Xiao, would you not agree?"
"What Elder Xiao…" Lin Fang blinked in confusion, then turned her head. "Senior Brother Xiao, you are here as well…"
Xiao Fengyi forced a smile. "Lin Fang, bring Yun Dehe back. With the Ancestor taking the field, this battle will be over soon."
Lin Fang's expression stiffened. She shot Yun Dehe a fierce glare. "If not for you, I would never have spoken so rashly!"
Yun Dehe merely smiled as he held the transmission talisman.
"With Ancestor Tian Shan stepping forth, this is truly extraordinary."
As long as Hao Yinqin fell, no matter who struck the killing blow, it would be a blessing for the Eastern Wilderness.
Yun Dehe's heart settled slightly. At least Miao Yun Sect still followed the righteous path.
As for Piao Miao Sect…
His eyes darkened. Silently, he followed Lin Fang and Xiao Fengyi back toward the City Lord's Mansion square.
Three corpses dangled openly above the square wall.
Xiao Fengyi landed, stunned.
In the middle of the square, Ancestor Tian Shan was kneeling before Hao Yinqin, his hand pressed against her face, her life force draining rapidly.
"What is this…?" Lin Fang's eyes were first drawn to the bodies hanging on the wall. When she recognized the faces, her eyes went wide.
"Aren't those Elder Zhao and the others…?"
Shocked, she rushed forward, but Xiao Fengyi hastily stopped her.
"Why do you stop me? Elder Zhao and the others are about to die!"
Yun Dehe swallowed hard."Not about to die. Already dead. Elder Lin, instead of rushing to them, you should be thinking of helping your Ancestor!"
"What?" Lin Fang had yet to grasp the situation when Xiao Fengyi drew his sword and charged toward the center of the square. He was struck back almost instantly, blood spraying from his lips.
Lin Fang was speechless.
Yun Dehe stared at Hao Yinqin in horror. "No… he isn't at early Divine Transformation at all. He's been concealing his strength this whole time!"
Lin Fang followed his gaze. Hao Yinqin's aura was overwhelming, blood mist surging skyward. He was brimming with vigor, nothing like someone who had just fought a battle.
"His… his cultivation has reached the late stage of Divine Transformation?!"
Terror dawned in Lin Fang's eyes, and she involuntarily retreated.
"Quick… hurry and save the Ancestor… Sect Master Yun, we are willing to offer supreme-grade spirit stones if you will act. So long as you can save the Ancestor, Miao Yun Sect will protect Yun Gu Sect unconditionally!"
Xiao Fengyi's voice was weak as he addressed Yun Dehe.
Lin Fang realized and shouted, "Yes, the Ancestor must not die. I will go save her myself!"
But Yun Dehe did not move. He watched as Lin Fang transformed into a streak of rainbow light, charging fearlessly toward Hao Yinqin. In the blink of an eye, she was swatted aside like a drifting withered leaf.
Hao Yinqin sneered. "Sect Master Yun, would you like to test my new power as well?"
Yun Dehe forced a laugh. "…No need, thank you!"
He had always thought himself no fool, yet today he had been toyed with again and again, deceived by Hao Yinqin and strung along by Miao Yun Sect.
Supreme-grade spirit stones? Even if they offered him a supreme-grade spirit vein, what use was it if he had no life left to enjoy it?
"You may not want to try, but I want to try!" Hao Yinqin suddenly hurled aside the shriveled corpse of Ancestor Tian Shan, flashing instantly to Yun Dehe's side.
The crushing pressure of his aura forced Yun Dehe to tremble, cold sweat soaking his brow as he gripped the transmission talisman.
"Sect Master Hao, what meaning is there in fighting me? You are now a great powerhouse of late Divine Transformation, while I, a mere mid-stage Nascent Soul, cannot even withstand a single move. Why not allow me to send this talisman and call forth a true opponent worthy of you?"
Hao Yinqin narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his expression. "A worthy opponent for me? And you claim you can find such a one?"
Relief flickered in Yun Dehe's heart.
Fortunately, Hao Yinqin's arrogance had saved him. So long as he was not killed outright, there remained room to maneuver.
"Of course. Has Sect Master Hao ever heard of Gu Ling Mountain in Shiyan City?"
Hao Yinqin's bloody claws froze mid-strike, his gaze turning sharp.
"You know the Divine Transformation cultivator hidden within Gu Ling Mountain?"
Yun Dehe feigned astonishment. "So you too are aware that a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě resides there in seclusion?"
Hao Yinqin's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "The hidden master you want to summon, it is they, is it not?"
Yun Dehe nodded firmly. "Precisely!"
Hao Yinqin regarded him for a long moment, then suddenly laughed.
"Then send the talisman. You have been clutching it all this time, yet never dared to send it. Truly pathetic."
He seized the talisman from Yun Dehe's hand and tossed it away without hesitation.
Yun Dehe stared at the three corpses hanging from the wall, then at the withered body of Ancestor Tian Shan.
"…"
He was wrong. From the very start, he should never have hesitated. Had he not wavered, he would not have sent that talisman to stop Yao Ranran from coming. The three of Miao Yun Sect would not have died so unjustly, and Ancestor Tian Shan would not have perished so quickly.
Because Fairy Ranran could have ended it all with a single strike…
How he longed for the days when Yao Ranran was by his side. Though she had been gone only a single day, it already felt like a year.
Hao Yinqin's hand closed around Lin Fang's throat, his smile cruel. "If that so-called expert you mentioned does not arrive before this woman dies, then you will be the next one."