Chapter 232: The extraterritorial battlefield is about to collapse?
Chapter 232: The extraterritorial battlefield is about to collapse?
Ten days had passed. Within the city lord's mansion in Heavenly Sword City, Ximen Changqing paced back and forth, his brow furrowed in concern.
Recently, a large number of spatial rifts had appeared, some alarmingly close to Heavenly Sword City. The number of ancient beasts appearing at night had also multiplied several times. Mysteriously, a large flock of Dark Falcons had almost crashed into the city during the night. None of these were good omens.
In the past, extraterritorial battlefields on the brink of collapse would see a surge in ancient beasts and numerous spatial rifts appear. Just recently, he had received news that his own direct disciple, Wu Shang, had nearly perished in a sudden spatial rift, losing a leg in the process.
"Elder, the Holy Maiden is waiting for you in the main hall," whispered a disciple from the Majestic Sword Sect.
Ximen Changqing's frown deepened. Why was that woman here again? He composed himself and put on a smile as he entered the hall, "I greet the Holy Maiden."
Leng Hanshuang's expression was as cold as frost, "Fellow daoist Ximen, I need you to tell me why He Liang has not yet returned. Have you secretly sent him another message?"
Ximen Changqing's brow furrowed deeper, "Holy Maiden, you must not make reckless accusations. I sent the message to fellow daoist He as you requested and have not sent another in these ten days. You may verify this. What exactly do you intend by urgently summoning fellow daoist He back? Could it be that you mean to harm him?"
Leng Hanshuang took a deep breath, "Fine, then send another message to He Liang. This matter cannot be delayed any longer."
Ximen Changqing replied calmly, "Certainly, but first I have a question for the Holy Maiden." With a wave of his hand, the doors of the great hall thunderously shut.
"Is this extraterritorial battlefield about to collapse? Why has the upper sect not announced anything? Why are the teleportation formations still strictly guarded, allowing no one to enter or exit? Do the lives of us lower sect cultivators not matter in the eyes of the upper sect?" Ximen Changqing asked seriously.
Leng Hanshuang stared into Ximen Changqing's eyes and replied coldly, "The teleportation formation will eventually be opened, and everyone will be able to leave alive. Rest assured, the Reincarnation Divine Sect is not like the demonic Heaven Shaking Divine Sect; we value every cultivator's life."
Ximen Changqing's expression eased slightly.
Leng Hanshuang continued, "Please, fellow daoist Ximen, send the message once more. As soon as I bring He Liang to the Reincarnation Tower and present him to Uncle Master Tiancang as a disciple, I will leave."
"Very well," Ximen Changqing nodded and, as before, sent another voice transmission.
Leng Hanshuang suddenly asked, "Could you teach me how to use the voice transmission jade?"
Ximen Changqing took a deep breath but maintained a smiling face, "Of course."
Leng Hanshuang took the voice transmission jade and left immediately. Ximen Changqing watched her departing figure, his expression turning icy cold. If he had the chance, he truly wished to personally eliminate this arrogant Holy Maiden.
Unfortunately, his own strength did not permit it, and her status prevented any direct confrontation. "Who could possibly control her?" he wondered. "Perhaps only Situ Kong, the Holy Son of the Reincarnation Divine Sect, could manage that."
Shaking his head, Ximen Changqing began preparations to evacuate the extraterritorial battlefield.
...
On the desolate plains of the extraterritorial battlefield, Leng Hanshuang swiftly moved with two cultivators from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. She held a voice transmission jade in her hand, from which a tender green sprout had emerged. The sprout had just one leaf, which pointed eastward—the direction Leng Hanshuang was heading.
"My master gave me this Divine Guide. I never thought it would be used in such a place," she mused. "This He Liang must have sensed something and does not wish to go to the Reincarnation Tower. Hmph, it's not up to you whether you go or not."
Leng Hanshuang commanded in a low voice, "Speed up."
"Yes!" The two Nascent Soul cultivators behind her accelerated at once.
At that moment, Chu Xuan swiftly moved across the plains, passing ruins and rubble. The cave he had previously chosen had developed several spatial rifts, necessitating a change to a new hideout.
"With things proceeding this way, the collapse of the extraterritorial battlefield is imminent," he thought. "And due to the loss of the Taotie Tree Seed, the teleportation arrays are still guarded by cultivators from the Reincarnation Divine Sect, with no one allowed to enter or leave freely."
Chu Xuan's brows furrowed deeply. He had unintentionally acquired the Taotie Tree Seed, never anticipating it would lead to such consequences. It truly was a hot potato.
Now, he needed to find a new cave near a teleportation array to hide. After all, as the battlefield was about to collapse, the cultivators would surely be evacuated. He could blend in with the crowd and possibly slip through unnoticed.
"Hm? Someone's coming?" Chu Xuan suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back. He glanced over his shoulder. On the distant horizon, three figures appeared, quickly approaching him.
Chu Xuan, without hesitation, activated the Mahayana Swift Escape. After consuming some of his accumulated merit, his speed surged dramatically.
"Hmm?" Leng Hanshuang noticed Chu Xuan's swift attempt to flee. She immediately growled, "Chase! We cannot let He Liang escape!"
The three pursuers increased their speed at that moment.
As a Holy Maiden of the Reincarnation Divine Sect, Leng Hanshuang was equipped with exceptional techniques, magical treasures, and spells.
The two Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators accompanying her were disciples assigned by a Deity Transformation Ancestor. Although they were only at the early stage of Nascent Soul, their abilities were still remarkable.
The trio quickly closed in on Chu Xuan. His Mahayana Swift Escape, a Golden Core stage escape technique, allowed him to match the speed of a False Soul stage cultivator once he consumed his merit.
However, it couldn't compare to a Nascent Soul stage escape technique. It was only a matter of time before they caught up to him.
Chu Xuan's expression turned icy as he noticed a cave nearby. Without hesitation, he dove into it. Whatever dangers the cave held seemed preferable to the relentless pursuit of three Nascent Soul cultivators behind him.
Seeing Chu Xuan plunge into the cave, Leng Hanshuang's brows furrowed. She wanted to follow, but the two Nascent Soul cultivators stopped her.
"Holy Maiden, the cave is extremely dangerous. It would be best for someone of your esteemed stature not to venture too deeply. Leave it to us," they advised.
After a moment's consideration, Leng Hanshuang nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you. Make sure to capture him alive."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"Yes!" The two Nascent Soul cultivators immediately entered the cave.
The cave was pitch-dark. Chu Xuan, who had previously only lingered around the outskirts of caves while collecting ancient beast carcasses, could sense a profound terror lurking deep within.
Not just Nascent Soul cultivators, but even Deity Transformation cultivators could perish if they strayed too deeply. Yet, with his pursuers close behind and unable to escape to Blue Star through the Blood Mirror, he had no choice but to take this desperate measure.
However, Chu Xuan did not venture deep into the cave. Shortly after entering, he sharply turned and hid around a corner. He took several deep breaths and employed the Abyssal Return Method to suppress his aura as much as possible. But having used too much spiritual qi just before, it was difficult to stabilize his aura quickly.
"He Liang! Uncle Master Tiancang values your talents and wishes to take you as his disciple. Do not miss this opportunity!"
"He Liang, why run upon seeing us? How can you miss such a tremendous opportunity?"
Voices called out from the entrance of the cave.