“Xuanji Holy Lord, our apologies! But we must have your cultivation technique!”
The words hung in the air.
The Old Ancestors of the Ancient Chen Family and Ancient Luo Family lunged at Xuanji Holy Lord simultaneously!
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Their intent wasn't to kill her, but to suppress her. After all, in the hearts of many Old Ancestors, Xuanji Holy Lord held a special place. More importantly, she was the one Ji Yue Old Ancestor of the Ji Family had declared he must claim in this lifetime!
In an instant, the tide turned. Dozens of spiritual energy storms erupted as the Old Ancestors from three Supreme-tier factions joined forces, their combined might sweeping across the heavens. Divine radiance enveloped the entire void. Xuanji Holy Lord stood alone, a solitary figure facing down dozens of towering mountains.
“Boom!”
Xuanji Holy Lord spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her body sent hurtling a thousand feet back!
Seeing Xuanji Holy Lord injured, a pang of sympathy struck many of the Old Ancestors.
An Old Ancestor from the Ancient Chen Family spoke, “Xuanji Holy Lord, there's no need to struggle further. If we truly wished to kill you, you would have been dead long ago!”
The Ancient Luo Family's Old Ancestor added, “Xuanji Holy Lord, we genuinely don't want to harm you. Cease fighting! Hand over the cultivation technique, and we can discuss it together!”
Xuanji Holy Lord slowly rose from the void, a cold glint in her eyes. She once again activated Xuanji's Art.
She would continue to fight!
The numerous Old Ancestors attacked again.
Boom!
Xuanji Holy Lord was once more sent flying, crashing back into the void. She wiped a streak of blood from the corner of her mouth and stood firm.
Fight!
Witnessing this, the gray-robed elder from the Cloud Sword Sect could no longer hold back. “Xuanji Holy Lord, why persist? Your pain wounds our hearts!”
The other Old Ancestors nodded in agreement. The name Xuanji Holy Lord was renowned throughout the Five Domains. While some present had never visited the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone in the Southern Wilds to seek her out, for countless epochs, portraits and statues of Xuanji Holy Lord had circulated through the major trading houses of the Five Domains. Many of these Old Ancestors secretly hoarded them, admiring her in private.
On her side, blood began to seep from Xuanji Holy Lord's crystalline jade palm, yet her spirit remained unyielding. She was on the verge of breaking through to Two-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme! Once she achieved that, she would be able to turn the tide of this battle!
Observing the fierce battle intent radiating from Xuanji Holy Lord, the Old Ancestors shook their heads slightly.
“That's just Xuanji Holy Lord's nature—unwavering and aloof! It's part of her charm, after all!”
“It seems we must continue to suppress her! Let Xuanji Holy Lord suffer a little more.”
“After all, Xuanji Holy Lord didn't even give face to an Ascended Supreme back in the day!”
With that thought, the Old Ancestors prepared to strike again.
Suddenly, a divine rainbow streaked across the void from the distant horizon.
“Boom!”
Several black-robed figures appeared! A dangerous aura surged from them, tearing through space as they flew toward the Eerie Abyss. They roared, “Who dares lay a hand on Xuanji Holy Lord?”
The Old Ancestors of the three factions froze. Who were these newcomers? For now, their assault on Xuanji Holy Lord ceased.
Moments later, the black-robed figures stood above the Eerie Abyss, gazing down at the assembled cultivators. “Who authorized you to attack Xuanji Holy Lord?”
The gray-robed elder from the Cloud Sword Sect snorted. “And who are you?”
One of the black-robed men produced an ancient token, engraved with a single, archaic character: 'Ji!'
The token emanated Ji Yue Old Ancestor's aura! A mere hint of its power was enough to feel Ji Yue Old Ancestor's terrifying pressure!
The Old Ancestors of the three factions were visibly shaken.
The Ancient Chen Family Old Ancestor suddenly exclaimed, “I know! You are Ji Yue Old Ancestor's personal guards!”
Ji Yue Old Ancestor was known to command a contingent of personal guards, his loyal deathsworn!
The leading black-robed disciple nodded faintly. “Good that you know! Now, no one is to lay a hand on Xuanji Holy Lord!”
They had been tasked with finding Xuanji Holy Lord, a mission they'd pursued for days without success. Ji Yue Old Ancestor had issued a death order: find Xuanji Holy Lord within a month, or they would pay with their lives! Now that they had found her, their immediate crisis was averted.
The leading black-robed man retrieved an ancient transmission jade slip, preparing to contact Ji Yue Old Ancestor using a supreme secret art.
Just as he was about to activate it, the Old Ancestors of the three factions offered an awkward smile. “It's not that we insisted on attacking Xuanji Holy Lord. It's simply that she possesses a terrifying cultivation technique, one that cultivates with Eerie Power, and its grade might even rival the Ji Family's own foundational techniques!”
“We only acted for the technique; we absolutely had no intention of harming Xuanji Holy Lord.”
The black-robed man frowned slightly. “Is that so?” He hadn't expected such an unexpected boon!
He glanced over. Xuanji Holy Lord had already swallowed a Healing Pill and was recovering from her injuries. He pondered for a moment. “Do not move. We will contact Ji Yue Old Ancestor first. His decision will dictate our next course of action.”
The three Old Ancestors replied, “Understood.”
The black-robed man immediately activated the supreme secret art. Brilliant spiritual patterns surged, and soon, Ji Yue Old Ancestor's voice echoed from the other side.
“Well? Any progress?”
The black-robed man reported, “Old Ancestor, Xuanji Holy Lord is here at the Eerie Abyss. However, she is currently surrounded by three factions who are attacking her because she possesses a heaven-defying cultivation technique.”
Ji Yue Old Ancestor's voice instantly changed. “What?! They dare to besiege Baili? Are they courting death? What is Xuanji Holy Lord's condition now?”
The black-robed man replied, “She is trapped and unable to escape!”
Ji Yue Old Ancestor immediately roared, “Presumptuous! Release Xuanji Holy Lord at once! If she wishes to cultivate in the Eerie Abyss, let her cultivate! No one is to disturb her!”
Hearing this, the black-robed man respectfully addressed Xuanji Holy Lord. “Holy Lord, please proceed as you wish.”
Xuanji Holy Lord nodded slightly and tossed out a Storage Ring. “Give this to Ji Yue.”
The black-robed man caught the Storage Ring and probed it with his divine sense, instantly stunned. Inside were vast amounts of cultivation resources! And Star Stones! Clearly, this was Xuanji Holy Lord's way of repaying the Ji Family for their intervention. She did not wish to owe any favors!
But Ji Yue Old Ancestor clearly wanted Xuanji Holy Lord to owe him a favor, so this Storage Ring could not be accepted! The black-robed man tried to return it. “My apologies, I cannot accept this!”
But Xuanji Holy Lord had already stepped into the Eerie Abyss.
Through the transmission jade slip, Ji Yue Old Ancestor had heard the entire exchange. He said calmly, “You needn't trouble Xuanji Holy Lord. That is simply her nature.”
“Stay where you are. I will descend personally with my people to welcome Xuanji Holy Lord!”
The black-robed man replied, “As you command!”
Witnessing this, the Old Ancestors of the three factions were all shocked. Ji Yue Old Ancestor himself was coming to welcome Xuanji Holy Lord! If that was the case, they could no longer interfere!
...
Within the Ji Family's ancestral land, Ji Yue Old Ancestor's face glowed with excitement, his eyes burning with fervor. “Xuanji Holy Lord, if you dare come to the Eastern Wilds this time, I dare to take you as my wife!”