NOVPUBShould I not have returned to the Jade Pool…?
Looking at the two Earthly Immortals before him and the intimidating woman in the black dress by his side, this thought flashed through Mu Zhi’an’s mind.
Then, he quickly came to terms with the situation.
No, it wasn’t that he shouldn’t have returned. It was just that no one had expected these people to turn against them so openly and without any disguise.
It was strange. Even if they could silently eliminate everyone in the Jade Pool Sacred Land and obtain the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit, what then?
How would they deliver it to the Primordial Demon Emperor at the Pilgrimage Palace in the Two Polarities Sect?
There must be some hidden scheme at play.
“Once the Jade Empress emerges from seclusion, none of you will escape!” a Jade Pool elder roared angrily.
“While the Jade Empress is in seclusion, do you think you have any chance of resistance?” Fu Yuan chuckled.
The man in the green robe sneered. “Someone else will deal with her.”
To establish such a powerful force in the Eastern Realm, they couldn’t possibly be fools. Since they dared to act, it meant they were prepared.
Some forces in the Eastern Realm were responsible for the Jade Pool Sacred Land, while the Demonic Cultivators would deal with the Jade Empress.
They weren’t even afraid of the Jade Empress and wanted to strike while she was condensing her Vessel?!
This answer sent chills down the spines of many within the Jade Pool.
“Fu Yuan, we are not from the Jade Pool. Let us leave, and I swear I will never reveal any information about this place,” an elder from another Primordial Clan pleaded.
He was from a different Primordial Clan and had only been here by chance, never expecting to encounter such a situation.
Both Sect Masters were at the fifth-grade Nascent Soul Realm. With the enhancement from their ancestral artifacts, most Nascent Soul cultivators wouldn’t be able to resist them. They had chosen to act now because they had brought their clan’s ancestral artifacts, giving them the confidence to be so reckless.
Three or four more elders spoke up, swearing that they would never reveal what happened here and begging to leave.
Fu Yuan raised an eyebrow, glanced at them, and said, “Since you’re all so sincere, I won’t make things difficult for you. You may leave.”
Is this guy really that kind? Mu Zhi’an watched the departing elders, his brow furrowed, a strange feeling in his heart.
Then, he suddenly heard screams coming from outside the Jade Pool Sacred Land.
It was the elders who had just left!
Mu Zhi’an abruptly turned his head and saw a figure emerging from the Sacred Land.
No… It could no longer be called human. It looked more like a monster.
Its body was covered in tentacles, it had an octopus head, and a pair of bat wings sprouted from its back. It looked grotesque and eerie!
“Someone from the Southern Wilderness?!” A Jade Pool elder exclaimed.
Rumors had it that the deity of the Southern Wilderness had such an appearance. It was forbidden to look directly at it, because seeing it meant facing the deepest fears within oneself.
The deity’s followers were also such monsters.
Of course, these monsters weren’t common. However, each one was at least at the Nascent Soul Realm, and their bodies alone could withstand several attacks from ancestral artifacts.
To think that even people from the Southern Wilderness have come…
This incident wasn’t just about the Eastern Realm and the Northern Realm Demon Realm; it also involved the Southern Wilderness!
Someone didn’t want another Empress in the Eastern Realm, so they wanted to eliminate her and resurrect the Primordial Demon Emperor to throw the Eastern Realm into chaos!
“Miss Lina, we’ll leave this to you,” Fu Yuan said with a smile, but his gaze was also wary of the terrifying creature.
“You’re not only colluding with the remnants of the Primordial Demon Emperor but also getting involved with the Southern Wilderness. Aren’t you afraid that there will be no place for you in the Eastern Realm in the future?!” The Jade Pool Empress Mother glared at them, her voice filled with anger and shock.
“I said, the one colluding with the Demon Emperor is you, not us,” Fu Yuan said with a faint smile.
“The truth lies only with the living.”
“The dead can’t speak!”
In the next moment, the smile on Fu Yuan’s face disappeared, and he summoned his clan’s ancestral artifact.
It was an Emperor-Grade weapon. Although it looked dilapidated and rusty, the deterrent force it radiated caused everyone present to change their expressions.
An ancestral artifact also emerged behind the Jade Pool Empress Mother. Looking at the three people before her, her face grew heavy.
These two men probably knew they were being used, but for the chance to reach the Dao Integration Realm, they had chosen this path.
The involvement of the Southern Wilderness was the reason they dared to be so brazen.
“Young friend Mu, I will do my best to send you and Yao Yue away with the other elders. After that, send out a signal and expose their true colors.”
The Jade Pool Empress Mother’s voice suddenly reached Mu Zhi’an’s ears. He glanced at the beautiful woman discreetly and nodded silently.
He was a very calm person and knew what to do at the right time. He couldn’t intervene in a battle at the Nascent Soul Realm level, but as long as he sent a signal to the outside world, they would have won.
Clang!
At this moment, an ancient bell toll suddenly echoed throughout the Jade Pool Sacred Land. It was one of the Jade Pool’s ancestral artifacts. Just hearing the sound made people feel as if their souls were about to leave their bodies.
While everyone was momentarily disoriented, Mu Zhi’an glanced at the Jade Pool Holy Maiden and the others. Without hesitation, he flew towards the exit of the Jade Pool on his sword, taking the Holy Maiden with him.
“Hmph!”
However, a cold snort suddenly rang out. Just the sound alone made Mu Zhi’an feel discomfort in his internal organs.
This was the pressure of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, amplified by the ancestral artifact. Even Nascent Soul cultivators of the same level would struggle to resist it, let alone someone at the Core Formation Realm.
Something on the Jade Pool Holy Maiden seemed to be resisting the pressure from the sound, but she was still affected, her face slightly pale. She gritted her teeth and continued to fly towards the exit.
Fu Yuan sneered and was about to attack.
But at this moment, the Jade Pool Empress Mother also raised her hand, her Spiritual Energy transforming into a giant sword that shot towards him.
The surrounding Jade Pool elders also attacked, their eyes bloodshot, seemingly determined to protect the Jade Pool Holy Maiden and send her away.
However, the elders beside Fu Yuan also made their move, marking the beginning of a chaotic battle.
Shouts and the clash of weapons filled the Jade Pool, but the sounds couldn’t reach the outside world. Everyone could clearly sense the pressure from the Spiritual Energy released.
The man in the green robe from the Violet Rainbow Sect laughed heartily. “Did you really think you could escape? As long as the barrier remains intact, you can’t leave.”
He then turned to look at the fleeing Jade Pool Holy Maiden, his eyes gleaming with a playful glint, like a cat toying with its prey. He reached out towards her with his hand.
Before anyone could react, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s sword shook violently, and she plummeted uncontrollably.
The man in the green robe snorted. “What good is being a prodigy? Before you grow strong, you’re just an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.”
“Shi Fei, bind her with a talisman and bring her back to the Violet Rainbow Sect. I have a use for her. If she resists, break her limbs.”
Shi Fei didn’t dare to defy the Sect Master and could only nod.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden also possessed an Innate Dao Body. He knew exactly what the man in the green robe wanted to do but could do nothing about it.
“A dignified Nascent Soul Realm Sect Master resorting to attacking a young girl. If word gets out, your reputation will be ruined,” an elder from the Profound Sky Sect mocked, but his eyes were filled with regret as he looked at the Jade Pool Holy Maiden.
Who wouldn’t want an Innate Dao Body?
“Holy Maiden Yao Yue, you can’t blame me for this. I will plead with my father to spare your life later,” Shi Fei said.
Although he couldn’t obtain the Innate Dao Body, he could imprison the Jade Pool Holy Maiden in his clan. Such a beauty, he would never tire of playing with her for a lifetime.
Looking at the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s graceful figure, a hint of greed flashed in Shi Fei’s eyes.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden bit her lip, helpless as she watched Shi Fei take out a talisman and approach her.
However, in the next instant, a whooshing sound came from behind. The Lone Star Sword shot out with lightning speed, piercing through Shi Fei’s chest.
The sudden attack caught everyone off guard. Shi Fei coughed up blood, looking down at the blade protruding from his chest.
The man in the green robe also reacted, abruptly turning around to see a scroll unfurl, attempting to suck him in.
The Eight Chaos Dream Scroll!
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden hesitated for a moment, then, ignoring the sharp pain in her chest, turned and fled towards the exit of the Jade Pool without hesitation.
However, disciples from the two Sects had already surrounded the area. Most of them were only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, but even with their numbers, they could continuously drain the Spiritual Energy from the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s Vessel.
This greatly hindered her progress.
Meanwhile, the man in the green robe released a surge of Spiritual Energy, instantly shattering the Eight Chaos Dream Scroll. He glared at Mu Zhi’an with a grim expression.
A mere Core Formation cultivator dared to trick him?!
At this moment, a seductive voice suddenly rang out. “Keep Mu Zhi’an alive. I have a use for him later.”
The woman in the black dress licked her lips alluringly and said softly, “I’ll make him swear not to reveal anything. Besides, I’ll cripple his tendons and keep him as my pet under my feet. He won’t bother anyone else.”
However, as soon as she finished speaking, the man in the green robe snorted, raised his hand, and unleashed a wave of emerald green flames that transformed into a sharp blade, shooting towards Mu Zhi’an.
The woman in the black dress frowned but didn’t say anything, only sighing softly. “What a pity.”
The emerald green flames descended towards Mu Zhi’an, but at this moment, the maid in the yellow dress intervened, blocking the attack with her sword.
She staggered back a few steps, looking somewhat disheveled, but she had managed to withstand the blow.
“Oh?”
The man in the green robe’s eyes lit up with interest as he examined the beauty in the yellow dress.
He hadn’t paid much attention before… but Mu Zhi’an’s maid seemed to be several times stronger than her master…
However… no matter how strong she was, she was still only at the Core Formation Realm. How long could she last against him?!
A cold glint flashed in the man’s eyes. He raised his hand again, unleashing another wave of emerald green flames.
It was just a casual attack for him, but when it reached Wei Mengrou, it felt like a mountain slowly moving towards her, bringing immense pressure.
At this moment, a scream suddenly came from the crowd. The man in the green robe glanced over and saw hundreds of golden firebirds soaring in the air, crashing into the disciples blocking the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s path.
These disciples were mostly from the Violet Rainbow Sect and the Profound Sky Sect, primarily at the Foundation Establishment Realm. They couldn’t withstand the formation.
The one controlling the formation was the young man with the Innate Celestial Vessel constitution.
The man in the green robe narrowed his eyes and was about to suppress him.
However, a Jade Pool elder intervened, engaging him in combat, forcing him to focus on his current opponent.
Although Mu Zhi’an rarely fought, it didn’t mean he was weak. At least, he hadn’t encountered anyone who could defeat him at the same level. It was just that he had always been protected by stronger people, so he didn’t need to fight personally.
The Hundred Birds Chain Formation swiftly eliminated dozens of cultivators. They charged out of the back garden, attacking the disciples of the two Sects surrounding the Jade Pool Sacred Land.
Hearing the continuous screams, the man in the green robe’s expression finally darkened. He blocked an attack from the Jade Pool elder, then abruptly turned to look at Mu Zhi’an on the ground, saying slowly, “You will die a horrible death.”
Mu Zhi’an didn’t respond. Or rather, he didn’t have the energy to.
His Vessel was operating at high speed, and he was still chewing on medicinal pills.
He couldn’t intervene in a Nascent Soul Realm battle, but the Jade Pool elders and the Jade Pool Empress Mother could hold them off for the time being.
However, if they continued to delay, the situation would become increasingly dire.
If they wanted to escape, they had to give it their all.
Mu Zhi’an took out another jade bottle and poured all the pills into his mouth.
These were mostly pills for restoring Spiritual Energy, including a Turtle Breath Pill.
I hope the Turtle Breath Pill works. I can’t die yet… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself as he controlled the formation with his hand. Each golden firebird pierced through a cultivator’s body, burning their Vessel to ashes.
He caught up to the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, continuously eliminating the surrounding cultivators with his formation, while the Spiritual Energy in his Vessel rapidly depleted.
Although most of these cultivators were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t withstand such overwhelming numbers. The Jade Pool Holy Maiden was enveloped in moonlight, but her face was deathly pale.
The cultivators had learned their lesson during the battle. Only a portion of them remained at the exit to block them, while the rest attacked from a distance, draining Mu Zhi’an and the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s Spiritual Energy.
Wei Mengrou was also helpless, blocked by the woman in the black dress, unable to assist Mu Zhi’an.
The woman in the black dress clearly wasn’t going all out; she simply wanted to stall Wei Mengrou. Her expression remained relaxed, as if she were a cat playing with a mouse.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to kill her. Her constitution was special, and she had sensed something strange within the maid in the yellow dress. If she attacked rashly, there might be unforeseen consequences.
“Even with Replenishing Essence Pills, my Spiritual Energy is running out. If this continues, I’m finished…” Mu Zhi’an looked at the dense crowd, his heart sinking.
But if he retreated now, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden would undoubtedly become the target of everyone’s attacks.
If they didn’t retreat, they might both die here.
At this moment, he suddenly sensed a terrifying surge of Spiritual Energy emanating from the Jade Pool Holy Maiden. She turned to look at him and transmitted her voice, “Young Master Mu, I’ll send you away.”
Her usually clear and bright eyes had turned golden.
