Chapter 442: The Rescue
The next moment.
A dazzling light suddenly erupted from the Desert Poison Scorpions, shooting beams of brilliance straight into the sky.
In that instant, a wild light flared. Yellow sand filled the air, and a piercing whistle screamed in everyone's ears, so sharp it was painful.
In a flash, their vision was obscured by a gray haze. All they could see was yellow sand as a massive sandstorm swept in, blotting out the sky.
As the sandstorm hit, everyone's Spiritual Power suddenly went into a frenzy without any warning. It surged uncontrollably, rampaging through their organs.
The group had just taken to the air, but they immediately began to sway and then plummeted back to the ground with a WHOOSH.
SPIT!
Wan Hai spat out a mouthful of blood as he staggered to his feet. He frowned deeply at the swirling yellow sand. "This is bad! There's something strange about this sandstorm. It's affecting our Spiritual Power."
Meanwhile, the Desert Poison Scorpions flickered and vanished into the sandstorm. Only their bright red, terrifyingly sinister eyes remained visible.
The sandstorm seemed to make them even more horrifying.
Suddenly, Gu Muyun thrust out her palm in a graceful arc, pushing everyone away.
The next instant, a massive, crimson, sharp tail shot up from the ground right where they had been standing.
The group, having narrowly avoided it, was startled.
Then, with a soft cry, Gu Muyun leaped into the air, raising her arm high.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
She slashed her Flying Treasure Sword through the air repeatedly.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A series of explosions rang out. A Desert Poison Scorpion that had been hiding in the sandstorm, preparing a sneak attack, was sliced into several pieces that clattered to the ground.
"Tianyao, the Cloud Boat!"
Gu Muyun suddenly shouted to Gu Tianyao.
Gu Tianyao froze for a moment before understanding. He muttered something under his breath, then swiped a hand across his waist before tracing a line in the sky.
In a flash, a magnificent Flying Boat materialized in the air.
The bizarre sandstorm might disrupt their Spiritual Power, but it couldn't affect the Flying Boat.
SCREECH!
Another clear phoenix cry rang out. A phantom Nine Heavens Ice Phoenix burst forth from Gu Muyun's body and shot into the sky, erupting in a dazzling, magnificent light.
BOOM!
A massive explosion.
It instantly blasted a large hole through the endless yellow sand, revealing the bright sky above.
Gu Tianyao pushed off the ground and quickly leaped into the Cloud Boat.
Wan Hai, Liu Ying, Tang Yi, and the others hurried to follow.
"Break!"
With a soft cry, Gu Muyun's Treasure Sword flashed with a magnificent light, cleaving a Desert Poison Scorpion that was lunging at the group in two.
She then lightly tapped her toe on another charging scorpion and landed inside the Flying Boat.
Gu Tianyao hurried to the bow of the Flying Boat. He muttered an incantation, raised a finger, and pointed forward. Mysterious runes on the Flying Boat flared to life, and it soared up, charging out of the sandstorm.
"Flame Thunder!"
Wan Hai let out a soft shout and pointed. His Thunder Flame Sword shot out, carving an arc through the sky and knocking away a Desert Poison Scorpion that tried to pounce on them.
Tang Yi and Liu Ying also took action, repelling the charging Desert Poison Scorpions one after another.
The Flying Boat was swift. It quickly left the Desert Poison Scorpions behind, flying straight ahead into the distance.
A moment later, with a PFFT!, the group burst out of the endless sandstorm. The world before them suddenly brightened. They had finally made it out.
Gazing at the azure sky, Gu Tianyao let out a sigh of relief and began to gasp for air, his heart still pounding with fear. "Whew, we're finally out."
Beside him, Wan Hai couldn't help but taunt, "Gu Tianyao, didn't you say these Desert Poison Scorpions were just insignificant demonic beasts that you could handle with ease? That we could leave them all to you?"
Hearing this, Gu Tianyao froze, a flash of embarrassment on his face.
Just then, Tang Yi seemed to notice something. She looked around, her expression puzzled. "Hey, where's Little Junior Brother? Why don't I see him?"
"Huh?"
Wan Hai started, whipping his head around. Sure enough, Shen Daoxing was nowhere to be seen. His brow furrowed. "Oh no! Little Junior Brother didn't make it onto the boat! He's still in the sandstorm."
As he spoke, something seemed to occur to Wan Hai. His face darkened, and he lunged forward, grabbing Gu Tianyao by his clothes. "It was you, Gu Tianyao!" he said angrily. "You did it on purpose! You wanted revenge on Little Junior Brother, so you deliberately left him behind, didn't you?"
Gu Tianyao raised his hand. SMACK! He irritably slapped Wan Hai's hand away and frowned. "I'm not that kind of person! It was chaotic back there. How could I possibly keep track of everyone? He didn't get on in time himself. How can you blame me for that?"
Wan Hai paused, then said urgently, "No, we can't do this. We have to go back. We have to save Little Junior Brother. It's too dangerous for him to be there alone."
But Gu Tianyao shook his head resolutely. "No. I said it before: if he falls behind on his own, I will absolutely not go back to save him."
Hearing this, Gu Muyun, who was standing nearby, frowned. She suddenly spoke to Gu Tianyao in an icy tone, "Go back."
Gu Tianyao was stunned. He looked at Gu Muyun in disbelief. "Sister, he insulted you like that, and you're still helping him?"
Gu Muyun didn't say anything more, only repeating coldly, "Go back."
Gu Tianyao didn't want to go back into such a dangerous place. But when he saw the icy, furious look on his sister's face, he couldn't help but shiver. He reluctantly began to turn the Flying Boat around.
But just at that moment.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion.
Everyone felt as if the entire Pengze Immortal Island had trembled. Beyond the desert, a colossal figure was sent flying high into the air, bursting into a spray of crimson blood before falling wretchedly and crashing heavily into the forest.
It was Ouyang Cheng's giant Golden Body Dharma Aspect, being beaten by a tiny figure, completely unable to fight back.
The group turned to look, stunned by the sight.
"There's no time! Ouyang Cheng and his people are about to collapse. Jun Wushuang might come looking for us next."
Gu Tianyao paused, then suddenly said, "You guys go find the Celestial Mirror Order first. I'll go back, rescue that kid, and then find you."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Suddenly, a few more explosions erupted. Three more giant figures were sent flying by Jun Wushuang's tiny form.
It was unclear what Jun Wushuang had even done, but the three giant figures were suddenly launched high into the air.
Clearly, the disciples of Pengze and Tan Yuan couldn't last long against Jun Wushuang.
Gu Muyun, Liu Ying, Wan Hai, and the others nodded grimly. They leaped down from the boat and, led by the Demonic Creatures, flew off into the depths of the Desert of Death.
Gu Tianyao, meanwhile, slowly turned the Flying Boat around. It lit up, shot forward, and plunged back into the endless sandstorm.