“Master, I’m sensing the aura of the Silent Destruction Sect,” Chen Changsheng’s voice echoed. “Two of their Nine-star Emperor Realm elders are following Second Senior Brother up the mountain. How do you wish to proceed?”
Lu Xuan didn’t even bother to open his eyes. “You handle it,” he said, his voice utterly unconcerned.
Chen Changsheng paused, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. A plan was already forming in his mind.
Meanwhile, the two Silent Destruction Sect elders, cloaked in shadow, exchanged triumphant glances. “This is a godsend!” one whispered. “By following Ye Chen, we should be able to bypass Azure Mystery Peak’s Restrictions without a hitch.”
Ye Chen continued his ascent with an unhurried gait, but the two Silent Destruction Sect elders remained vigilant. Yet, with their very next step, an unsettling anomaly occurred. Ye Chen vanished. Before them now stood an ancient, weathered wooden plaque. “Azure Mystery Peak: Sacred Ground. Entry by invitation only. – Lu Xuan.”
The two Silent Destruction Sect Great Emperors exchanged a look, their confidence wavering. Instantly, they activated a secret art, their forms dissolving into two wisps of black mist, their divine senses probing the surroundings like phantoms. They sought any trace of Ye Chen, but found nothing. “Could Ye Chen have been nothing more than bait?” the brocade-robed young man murmured. The grey-robed middle-aged man’s brow furrowed, his expression grim. “Impossible! We infiltrated the Grand Dao Sect without a single soul noticing. How could we be discovered the moment we approached Azure Mystery Peak?” Utterly bewildered, they decided to wait, frozen in place.
But then, an unforeseen change erupted! The power of a heaven-reaching formation surged, and brilliant Formation Patterns materialized, instantly locking onto the two elders.
The brocade-robed young man’s face turned ashen. “Retreat!” he yelled. He now knew, with chilling certainty, that their cover was blown. This was terrifying! Had the White Robe Great Emperor detected them just by their proximity to Azure Mystery Peak? Their movement technique was a gift from their Old Ancestor, rumored to evade even Half-step Supremes! In a flash, their bodies moved like gusts of wind, evading the majority of the Restrictions and seals that rained down upon them.
But it was useless! Within the formation, terrifying Formation Patterns ceaselessly evolved. Azure Mystery Peak had vanished, replaced by a bizarre, illusory landscape. The two elders were stunned; the formation had conjured a corner of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone! Had the White Robe Great Emperor also ventured into the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone? They were intimately familiar with the forbidden zone, and this was unmistakably a part of it.
Boom! Just as they stood bewildered, an incomparably profound Power of Spatial Array Patterns surged around them, endless brilliant spiritual runes swirling like constellations. The brocade-robed young man was utterly terrified. He frantically devoured a large gulp of Life Force, then swept his sleeve, unleashing terrifying Desolation Power. Any Formation Patterns that neared him instantly became sluggish, withered, or even annihilated. The middle-aged man mirrored his actions. Their only thought now was to escape this place immediately! At this point, they held nothing back. Every breath they lingered here increased the danger. They unleashed all their techniques, surging divine radiance like a vast ocean. No longer concealing their forms, they stood within the grand formation, directly summoning two Nine-star Emperor Weapons to resist the Formation Patterns from Azure Mystery Peak. Their hands wove intricate spiritual seals, and obscure, ancient Formation Patterns intertwined across their bodies.
But it was useless! It was utterly useless! A few breaths later, a terrifying Power of Spatial Array Patterns erupted. The brocade-robed young man frowned, his face pale. “Power of Spatial Array Patterns... Where are they sending us?” The middle-aged man unleashed the full might of his Nine-star Emperor Realm cultivation, a terrifying surge of power, yet it still couldn't stop the teleportation. His face contorted into a snarl. “That damned White Robe Great Emperor! He must have detected us back at the Blackflame Mountain Range and laid this heaven-reaching grand formation in advance, just waiting for us to arrive!”
Boom! The two figures transformed into streaks of light, shooting out from Azure Mystery Peak and directly toward the Grand Dao Sect’s outer boundaries. Their speed was incredible, like two rivers of stars streaking across the void, tearing through the sky.
Instantly, Tianyuan Old Ancestor and the others, hidden away, were startled. They sent a divine message to Lu Xuan. “What happened?” Lu Xuan replied calmly, “Just a minor incident. Some Silent Destruction Sect elders stepped onto Azure Mystery Peak, but they’ve already been teleported away.” The Old Ancestors exchanged glances, then burst into hearty laughter. “Wonderful, simply wonderful! Once again, we owe it to Daoist Friend White Robe!” Previously, a Nine-star Great Emperor from the Stabbing Heaven Palace had infiltrated the Grand Dao Sect, and now Great Emperors from the Silent Destruction Sect had done the same, yet none of them had detected it! Thankfully, the Grand Dao Sect had the White Robe Great Emperor standing guard, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable! A moment later, Tianyuan Old Ancestor and the others retracted their divine senses. They sighed, knowing they had to be extra cautious during this period. After all, the White Robe Great Emperor had annihilated the Demon Hall and the Stabbing Heaven Palace; the Demon Court and Dark Shadow Island would certainly not let it go.
Not long after, Ye Chen finally reached the peak. He looked at the two divine rainbows streaking across the void and asked Lu Xuan, “Master, what just happened?” Lu Xuan briefly explained the situation. Ye Chen simply said, “Oh,” then asked, “So, where were they sent?”
Chen Changsheng smiled. “A grand gift, delivered straight to Xuanji Holy Lord in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone!”
Ye Chen froze for a moment, then recalled Elder Yao’s mention of his own near-death experience in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. He asked curiously, “The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone? I was once saved by a magnate from there. I remember them saying something like, ‘Today’s cause, tomorrow’s fruit!’” As his words fell, Chen Changsheng was visibly stunned. Second Senior Brother also had karma tied to the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone? This was a secret he hadn’t uncovered! “Do you remember what that magnate looked like?” Chen Changsheng pressed. Ye Chen shook his head with a smile. “They seemed to be wearing grey robes, but I couldn’t tell if they were male or female.” Chen Changsheng frowned, falling into deep thought. “Grey robes?” There were too many grey-robed figures! With such little information, he couldn’t possibly identify them.
Ye Chen suddenly chuckled. “Could the one who saved me back then have been Xuanji Holy Lord, Senior Bai Li?”
Lu Xuan pursed his lips. “What are the chances of that?”
Just then, Ji Fuyao emerged from the thatched hut, carrying steaming dishes. She smiled sweetly. “Master, if the opportunity arises in the future, why not take Xuanji Holy Lord as a disciple too?”
Lu Xuan was utterly dumbfounded. He didn’t just take disciples on a whim. Chen Changsheng was speechless. Senior Sister really dares to think big! Xuanji Holy Lord was known as the Ten-thousand-year Iceberg Beauty; even if Master displayed terrifying power, it wouldn’t sway her. She had her own Dao! After all, from the Ancient Era until now, Xuanji Holy Lord had been single-handedly resisting the Eerie Power and Ominous Power, refusing to consume Life Force. On that point alone, she had surpassed countless magnates! Ye Chen, however, was a little excited. “Wouldn’t that mean my savior would become my Junior Sister?”
Elder Yao fell silent.
Lu Xuan was speechless. Good heavens. One casual remark, and they’ve spun an entire saga in their heads? How had it already escalated to taking Xuanji Holy Lord as a disciple? These disciples truly were Over-Interpreters!
The four immediately gathered around the stone table and began to eat. Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes twinkled with curiosity. “Master, what exactly are your criteria for taking disciples?”