Jiuyou led Canfeng eastward, flying for several thousand li. Along the way, aside from occasionally encountering some low-rank cultivators, there was nothing else worthy of his attention.
During the journey, he paused several times to gather some rare spirit herbs. Although these herbs were low in age, once he got back and used the Little Green Bottle to accelerate their maturation, they could still come in handy.
As for those unlucky low-rank cultivators who stumbled into their path, Jiuyou didn’t even need to lift a finger. Canfeng handled them easily on his own, without even using that Late Golden Core Soul Wraith Puppet. As for the souls of those Foundation-Establishing cultivators, Jiuyou considered them worthless, so Canfeng absorbed them all himself.
After a moment, the cyan mist dissipated, and the two figures slowly materialized atop a mountain peak.
Jiuyou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze leisurely sweeping across the surrounding area. Canfeng stood obediently behind him, also looking around.
Suddenly, Jiuyou gazed southward, his expression calm, saying nothing.
Seeing this, Canfeng also looked in that direction, leaning forward slightly and squinting as he carefully sensed the area. After a moment, a hint of excitement appeared on his face, and he lowered his voice.
“Ancestor, there are Golden Core cultivators fighting over there! All we’ve run into along the way were those ant-like Foundation-Establishing types. I haven’t even had a chance to use my Late Golden Core puppet yet. Why don’t you let me go test my skills and capture their souls for you, Ancestor?”
Jiuyou didn’t respond. He merely gazed into the distance, his murky old eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Seeing this, Canfeng tactfully shut his mouth and stood quietly by the side.
Meanwhile, several dozen li to the south.
On an open grassland, seven Golden Core cultivators were locked in a chaotic battle. Spiritual light flew in all directions, mana surged violently, and the grass over a several-hundred-zhang radius was torn to shreds.
All seven were at Late Golden Core, split into two groups—four Righteous Path Alliance cultivators against three Demonic Path Alliance cultivators. The Righteous Path Alliance had the numerical advantage, their attacks coming in relentless waves, crushing the Demonic Path side until they could barely breathe.
Among the three from the Demonic Path Alliance, the leader was an old man in an ink-colored robe. His face was sallow, his aura weak and unstable—clearly someone whose lifespan was nearing its end.
But his movements were anything but hesitant. From time to time, he would pull pills from his Storage Pouch and swallow them, then pass several bottles to the two Golden Core cultivators beside him.
Those two Golden Core cultivators were clearly protecting this ink-robed old man, one on each side, shielding him as they desperately fended off the Righteous Path Alliance’s attacks. It was obvious this old man held a special status.
“Elder Dan, we two will cover you! Retreat first!” one of them shouted urgently. “Elder Wei and Elder Zhong are tied up—they might not make it in time. If this draws any other Righteous Path Nascent Soul cultivators…”
“Enough nonsense!” the old man addressed as Elder Dan said, his voice low and tinged with anger. “This elder is already a dying man. Dying sooner or later is all the same to me. How could I abandon the two of you? Besides, the four of them aren’t enough to take me down!”
Before he even finished speaking, a brilliant cyan light blazed from his hand. Dozens of leaf-shaped magic tools materialized, swirling around him before shooting toward the enemy. The leaves were as sharp as blades, their cutting whistles piercing the air, temporarily forcing back the attacks of the four Righteous Path cultivators.
But the four Righteous Path Golden Cores had the advantage in numbers after all. Once they stabilized their position, they immediately counterattacked. The three Demonic Path cultivators fought as they retreated, their situation growing increasingly dire.
Just then, a booming laugh echoed from afar, carrying undisguised contempt.
“Hahaha, Dan Xuanzi, you really are a man of loyalty. But since I haven’t seen you in a hundred years and you’re still stuck at Late Golden Core, don’t blame me for taking your life on behalf of the entire Righteous Path Alliance today!”
As the voice fell, a streak of golden light shot in from the horizon at incredible speed, carrying an overwhelming pressure. Within the golden light, a figure stood with hands clasped behind his back—it was unmistakably a Nascent Soul cultivator!
The man casually raised his hand, and a small golden sword flew out. Growing larger in the wind, it transformed into a massive beam of golden light, charging straight at Elder Dan.
“A Righteous Path Nascent Soul—no good!”
The two Demonic Path Golden Core cultivators’ faces changed drastically. Without a second thought, they rushed in front of Elder Dan, pouring all their power into raising a defensive barrier. But how could they block an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator?
Boom!
The moment the golden light collided with their defense, one of the Golden Core cultivators was killed on the spot, his entire body obliterated in that golden radiance. He didn’t even have time to scream.
The other Golden Core cultivator spat out a mouthful of blood. Like a kite with a snapped string, he was sent flying backward, slamming heavily into the ground and cratering the grassland into a massive pit several zhang wide. His fate was unknown.
Elder Dan, thanks to the two Golden Core cultivators shielding him, barely managed to put some distance between them, but even he was shaken by the shockwave. His qi and blood churned violently, and he stumbled backward several steps.
The golden light, having struck its blow, showed no mercy. It converged and re-formed into that small golden sword, then turned its blade and stabbed straight toward Elder Dan.
Watching the golden light grow closer, a flash of despair flickered in Elder Dan’s eyes. He desperately channeled his mana, shoved several recovery pills into his mouth, and threw out a defensive magic tool to block in front of him.
But that magic tool hadn’t even touched the golden light before it was devoured by the sword’s radiance and reduced to ashes.
Suffering the backlash from his magic tool, Elder Dan coughed up another mouthful of blood.
The golden light grew closer and closer, arriving in the blink of an eye.
At this critical moment of life and death—
A beam of blue flame shot in from afar, faster than the golden light, stronger in power, carrying an overwhelming chill. It slammed violently into that golden light.
Boom!
The moment the two forces collided, heaven and earth seemed to tremble. The golden light was forcibly knocked off course, flying diagonally into a distant hill, blasting the entire hill flat. Stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the sky.
The Righteous Path Nascent Soul cultivator stumbled back several steps, his face pale, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked down at his natal golden sword and saw a layer of ghostly blue flame clinging to the blade, slowly eroding his magic tool.
“What’s going on?!” Shock filled his heart. He jerked his head up and stared in the direction the flame had come from. “Who’s there?!”
In the distance, a mass of cyan mist roiled and churned.
From within the mist, a hoarse voice slowly rang out, contemptuous and mocking, tinged with condescension.
“I thought some great figure had arrived. Turns out it’s just a newly formed Nascent Soul cultivator. With skills like yours, you dare to plot against someone from my Demonic Path Alliance? You’re asking for death.”
As the voice faded, the cyan mist gradually receded, and Jiuyou’s figure slowly emerged. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his black robe billowing in the wind, with the visibly excited Canfeng following behind.
Murderous intent filled Jiuyou’s murky old eyes. He stared coldly at the Righteous Path Nascent Soul cultivator, his gaze as sharp as a blade, stabbing into the man until chills ran down his spine.
The Nascent Soul cultivator’s pupils contracted sharply. He raised his hand and recalled the small golden sword to his side, its tip aimed at Jiuyou, but he hesitated to strike first.
“Jiuyou… it’s actually you, you old demon!”
His voice was tight, his expression turning extremely ugly.
Hearing this, Jiuyou couldn’t even be bothered to look at him again. His gaze passed over the man and landed on Elder Dan, a flicker of heat in his eyes.
The moment Elder Dan saw Jiuyou, a flash of joy appeared in his eyes, as if he had grabbed a lifeline. He quickly channeled his mana and, along with the severely injured Golden Core cultivator, flew rapidly toward Jiuyou’s direction.
“Trying to escape?”
The Righteous Path Nascent Soul cultivator’s face darkened. He raised his hand and waved, and the small golden sword shot out again, carrying heavy killing intent as it chased after Elder Dan.
Jiuyou’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t even lift his eyelids. He casually struck out with another blue flame, which instantly transformed into a half-zhang-sized flaming skull, charging straight ahead to meet the attack.
Boom!!!
The golden light was easily dispelled, exploding midair, sending spiritual radiance scattering in all directions.
The Righteous Path Nascent Soul cultivator’s face was ashen. He stared intently at Jiuyou, his eyes filled with wariness. Gritting his teeth, he dared not strike again. Transforming into a streak of golden light, he fled into the distance without looking back.
“Escapes pretty fast.”
Jiuyou gave a light snort but didn’t pursue.
After all, Nascent Soul cultivators were hard to kill. Besides, even if he gave chase, who knew whether the direction the man fled might lead to a few more Nascent Soul cultivators? He certainly wouldn’t waste effort on something so unrewarding, potentially even throwing his own life away for nothing.
Then, his gaze fell back on Elder Dan. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his tone even carried a hint of warmth.
“Elder Dan, I never expected to run into you here, and in such a dangerous situation. Didn’t Fellow Daoist Gu send a Nascent Soul elder to accompany you?”
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