NOVPUBXu Zimei had thought he’d escaped and let his guard down.
Just then, a formidable suppression descended, sending chills down his spine involuntarily.
It felt as if something had targeted him.
On the spot, he was suppressed and immobilized.
Soon after, a long knife, formed by condensed blade intent and spanning a hundred meters, evolved.
It slashed down from the firmament with overwhelming force.
Yu Chengkong didn’t even have the chance to dodge and was slain on the spot by the long knife.
"Lu Ze, you have doomed me."
With a powerless roar, that part of the sky was annihilated on the spot.
Everyone watching was dumbstruck.
It took a while for Lu Ze to come to his senses.
"You killed him," he said, looking incredulously at Xu Zimei.
"Is that not okay?" Xu Zimei asked with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"No, I don’t mean that," Lu Ze averted his gaze from Xu Zimei’s eyes nervously.
He said unnaturally, "I opposed the Feather Clan for Yu Yan’s sake.
You didn’t need to do this, especially with a bright future ahead of you, to throw it away here."
"How do you know I’ll throw it away here?" Xu Zimei laughed.
"I thought you couldn’t bear to see Yu Chengkong die."
"How could I," Lu Ze hurriedly denied.
"If you’re not afraid, then forget I said anything."
"Let’s head back to the clan first," Shi Yuyan said calmly as she withdrew her right hand.
"We should leave before the Feather Clan’s reinforcements arrive."
The group nodded and, carrying Wang Yang’s ice-bound body, they headed up the Stone Holy Mountain.
The surface of Stone Holy Mountain was enveloped in a purple barrier.
The barrier covered a vast area, enclosing the entire Stone Holy Mountain within it.
The Stone Race was on high alert, ready for battle at any moment.
There was a narrow mountain path leading to the summit.
Shi Jian knocked forcefully on the barrier a few times and immediately alerted the guards.
A somewhat burly youth with dark skin emerged from the mountain.
"Who dares trespass on Stone Race territory?"
"Stone, it’s me," Shi Jian quickly shouted. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
The burly youth was stunned, looked carefully for a moment, and then excitedly asked, "Cousin Shi Jian, Saintess, what brings you back together?"
"How can we stand by when our family is in trouble?" Shi Jian replied.
The young man named Stone hurriedly opened the barrier and welcomed them in.
"Where’s the Clan Leader?" Shi Yuyan asked.
"The Clan Leader has been in the Council Hall these past few days, discussing strategies with the other Clan Elders," Stone sighed.
"Now, our Stone Race’s territory has been completely lost. All that remains is around Stone Holy Mountain, and who knows how long we can hold out."
"I understand," Shi Jian patted the other’s shoulder.
He said, "You’ve worked hard guarding the Sect Gate."
"It’s nothing. You all go and see the Clan Leader first," Stone said quickly.
...…
The Stone Race’s Council Hall was located midway up the mountain.
As everyone followed the mountain path, Shi Jian looked at Xu Zimei and whispered, "Can you handle it?"
"You still don’t trust me," Xu Zimei shook his head and chuckled.
"I thought you said you’d help our Stone Race, and I thought we only had the Feather Clan as our enemy.
Now, with the Ancient Dragon Dynasty intervening, it’s probably stronger than we imagined," Shi Jian said.
"It’s not your fault, but don’t worry, whether or not you can help our Stone Race,
I will talk to the Clan Leader and lend you the Supreme Hammer if possible."
"Let’s go," Xu Zimei waved it off.
The Stone Holy Mountain is a picturesque landscape of splendid rivers and mountains.
The peaks are constructed from massive boulders, forming a sight of strange and rugged beauty.
The path up the mountain is not very steep; in fact, it’s rather flat.
Along the way, one can encounter many members of the Stone Race, most of whom greet Shi Yuyan.
When the group reached halfway up the mountain, they saw at the end of their view.
A series of bizarre rock-built halls rose and fell along the mountainside.
Diamonds, Fluorescent Stones, Wisdom Pattern Stones... various stones were visible everywhere.
These grand halls appeared simple and majestic, somewhat reminiscent of ancient European architecture.
Around the halls, many paintings were carved.
They all tell the history of the Stone Race.
Shi Jian and Shi Yuyan arranged a pavilion for the group to rest in.
They let everyone rest there first.
As for the two of them, they had to enter the grand hall to see the Clan Leader first.
...
Watching the departing figures of Shi Yuyan and her companion, Lu Ze finally withdrew his gaze.
Then, he turned to Xu Zimei with a smile, "Brother Xu, with such strength, you must be quite famous at Heavenly Dao Academy.
Why haven’t I heard of you before?"
"I prefer to keep a low profile," Xu Zimei waved his hand.
"From which place does Brother Xu hail?" Lu Ze’s gaze twinkled as he continued to inquire.
"Just a wanderer, though I belong to a Sect Gate, I rarely return," Xu Zimei replied with a smile.
"I’m used to being on my own."
"If Brother Xu is interested and has the time, you could also visit my Immortal Mortal Sect, where I will fulfill the host’s courtesy," Lu Ze said with a smile.
"The Immortal Mortal Sect eh, I’m not very familiar with it, but I do know someone from there," Xu Zimei pondered for a moment.
"Oh?" Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Lu Ze showed a slight surprise.
He quickly asked, "May I know the name of the person Brother Xu knows? It’s possible I know them too."
"He’s an old man named Yun Fan," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
Back when he had descended upon Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain, he had initially planned to destroy it.
Later on, the Heaven Expanse Sage called upon Elder Yunfan from the Immortal Mortal Sect to plead on his behalf.
This event was long past, but Xu Zimei remembered it vividly because he had extorted from them the Heaven Expanse Astrolabe.
Upon hearing Xu Zimei’s words, Lu Ze’s expression subtly changed.
He forced a smile and said, "Brother Xu must be joking."
"I’m serious," Xu Zimei responded.
"Young Master Xu, please be mindful of your words and actions," Tan Qingqing, who was beside him, stood up.
She spoke indifferently, "Elder Yunfan is Brother Lu’s grandfather and also one of the Core Elders of our Immortal Mortal Sect.
You say you know him?"
"What a coincidence?" Xu Zimei was somewhat surprised.
Then he smiled, "When you have time, go ask your grandfather if he recognizes me.
If he doesn’t remember, just mention the four words, ’Heaven Expanse Holy Mountain,’ and he will know."
Back then, he had annihilated an Extinct Heaven Sect with two emperors, and when he descended with the might of extinguishing the sect, he doubted that Elder Yunfan would forget him.
Lu Ze felt that Xu Zimei’s words somehow bordered on the absurd.
His grandfather had always stayed within the Sect Gate, hardly ever leaving.
How could the two of them know each other?
But Xu Zimei spoke calmly, without a trace of teasing or jest.
As the situation became tense, Shi Jian and Shi Yuyan came over from a distance.
Accompanied by them were seven or eight middle-aged men in brown robes with a hefty presence, and several elders.
Lu Ze and his companions quickly stood up.
The leader of this group was a middle-aged man at the forefront.
He had short, neat hair.
