Chapter 109 - 106: Ji Yan Ascends to the Saint Manifestation Rank, Sanqing’s Four Perils Gain Another!_1
That meeting was a memory Fairy Yudai had from two days ago. In other words, by that timeline, the Hehuan Sect, the Ghost King Sect, and the two Demon Kings would launch their surprise attack on Limitless City tomorrow.
That was close!
If Fairy Yudai hadn’t been so infatuated and taken the initiative to seek out Wang Xiu, the five million citizens of Limitless City would likely have been doomed. After all, only Venerable Wuji was stationed there to protect them.
The enemy force consisted of four Venerable-level devils and demons, all with the element of surprise. If a battle were to break out, the odds for Venerable Wuji would be grim.
Once Venerable Wuji fell, Limitless City, bereft of the Immortal Sect’s protection, would become a choice piece of meat. The demon cultivators would instantly carve it up, beginning a gluttonous feast.
If there’s a problem, turn to the Sect!
Wang Xiu had no intention of single-handedly turning the tide. After all, this was a clash between four Venerables. As a mere weakling in the Core Formation Stage, he would be courting death if he recklessly got involved.
He took out his Communication Token, immediately contacted Xiao Qingyu, and reported the situation.
Of course, Wang Xiu selectively omitted a few secrets, such as his use of the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Amidst Thousands of Clouds and Rain Technique" or the "Ming Emperor’s Soul-Reading Technique."
For instance... how he, the shame of the Sanqing Sect, had stealthily visited a brothel with Huang Yunchong, another of the sect’s embarrassments.
None of that was important. The story was simply that ’by a stroke of luck, he learned that the Hehuan Sect, the Ghost King Sect, and the two Devil Races were preparing to move against Limitless City.’
Normally, such fragmented intelligence wouldn’t be credible. However, Xiao Qingyu harbored no doubts. She merely cautioned, "Take care of yourself and don’t get involved," before she began to arrange a counterstrategy.
After ending the communication, Wang Xiu couldn’t help but smile wryly. "Don’t get involved? Of course, I won’t get involved! That’s a clash between Venerables. Am I tired of living? Just watching the fireworks from the sidelines is enough for me."
Just as he finished speaking, Wang Xiu noticed Fairy Yudai’s Communication Token begin to vibrate gently. Two words appeared on its surface: Master.
SNAP.
Why was Venerable Yu Jiao calling at this critical moment?
Wang Xiu’s mouth twitched. Not answering was out of the question; these demon cultivators were all exceedingly cautious. With the operation so close, if Venerable Yu Jiao discovered that one of her protectors had suddenly lost contact, she would absolutely call everything off. She would go into hiding and wait for the next opportunity.
This time, Wang Xiu had stumbled upon their conspiracy by chance. If he failed to ensure they were all caught in one fell swoop, he wouldn’t get such a lucky break again. After all, a thief can strike on any one of a thousand days, but you can’t stand guard for a thousand days straight.
If things went wrong, those five million people might still be unable to escape their fate.
CLICK.
With a resolute look in his eyes, Wang Xiu slowly picked up the Communication Token. His appearance, height, and clothes began to change rapidly. In just a moment, he became the spitting image of Fairy Yudai, with no discernible difference.
Connecting via the Communication Token, Wang Xiu demurely saluted the projected image of Venerable Yu Jiao. "Disciple pays respects to Master," he said. "May Master’s youth be eternal, her life as long as the heavens, her immortal fortunes everlasting, and her beauty captivate all beings."
In the image, a look of satisfaction spread across Venerable Yu Jiao’s face. She really liked this disciple’s sweet flattery. "The operation is about to begin. Hurry back to the branch and accompany me," she ordered. "If this is a success, you girls will be handsomely rewarded. Now, put your backs into it for me!"
Put my back into it? But this disciple doesn’t want to get involved at all!
Wang Xiu’s face fell. This was clearly a trap. Who knew how many senior brothers, senior sisters, and martial uncles Senior Sister Xiao would have arranged to support Limitless City and slay the demons?
The people of Limitless City would certainly be safe.
But if I assume Fairy Yudai’s appearance and mingle with these devils and demons, what would happen if I’m seen by my senior brothers, senior sisters, and martial uncles? It would be a total disgrace! The reputation of the Divination Sect would be utterly ruined!
Venerable Yu Jiao’s expression hardened. "What are you thinking about?"
Snapping back to his senses, Wang Xiu hurriedly replied, "Disciple obeys! I will return to the branch immediately."
The communication ended. Wang Xiu sighed, cleaned up the bloodstains and signs of a struggle in the room, and then stepped out of All Fragrances Garden.
***
「Meanwhile...」
As Wang Xiu reported the situation to Xiao Qingyu, many members of the Sanqing Immortal Sect in Vermilion Bird City received the message.
In a certain Daoist temple, the cry of a dragon shook the heavens as a tall man clad in bronze armor and wielding a bronze halberd stepped out, his body radiating an overwhelmingly vast aura.
"When a fellow Daoist is in trouble, it is our duty to help." The man put away his communication token. "Senior Sister Xiao, rest assured. I, Xiang, shall slay these fiends with my halberd and defend the Righteous Path!"
***
Before a waterfall, Qin Guangling sat cross-legged with an ancient zither resting on his knees. The music flowed from it, as elegant and sublime as a mountain stream.
"Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I have already resigned from my part-time job at Phoenix Perch Building, and I’m in desperate need of money! This time, I’ll let those fiends have a taste of my ’Battle Hymn of Mountains and Rivers.’ The music of my zither will be their funeral dirge!"
***
Inside All Fragrances Garden, Huang Yunchong, who was in the heat of battle, was so startled by his vibrating communication token that he immediately sounded the retreat. He hastily tidied himself up before answering the call.
"Got it! Got it! Understood, Senior Sister Xiao! You can count on me, Senior Sister Xiao! I, Huang, have a blood feud with those devils and demons! This time, I’ll make sure they don’t make it back alive!"
***
In front of Phoenix Perch Building, the four Li brothers stepped out. Li Zuoyue carried a sword box on his back. His entire being was now devoid of any sharp aura, like a holy sword returned to its scabbard.
However, only those who truly understood the sword would know that he was now even sharper than before. Once that divine sword was unsheathed, it would be powerful enough to shake the heavens and the earth!
He bowed slightly. "Please rest assured, Senior Sister. To bear my sword and save the people is my duty. I will head to Limitless City at once and make those fiends pay with their heads!"
On the other end of the communication, Xiao Qingyu nodded slightly. "According to the intelligence from our junior brother, the enemy will likely dispatch four Venerable-level experts and at least twenty cultivators at the Golden Core Stage. With all of you present, handling those at the Golden Core Stage shouldn’t be an issue. As for the four Venerables, I will make other—"
Before Xiao Qingyu could finish, a calm and indifferent voice interrupted her.
"Leave those four Venerables to me."
As the voice spoke from right behind him, Li Zuoyue was stunned. He was an expert at the Ninth Heaven of the Golden Core Stage, and his senses were astonishing. A peak Nascent Soul Stage cultivator might be able to defeat him, but appearing behind him so silently was another matter entirely.
He spun around. Standing there was a man in ragged clothes with a grimy, unkempt face, looking as wretched as a beggar.
"Elder Ji Yan?" Li Zuoyue exclaimed in surprise. Word in the sect was that Elder Ji Yan had been missing for days, supposedly having gone down the mountain to chase skirts and find a new concubine. How had he ended up in such a sorry state? Did he try to hook up with some other Immortal Sect’s leader’s wife and get chased across the continent?
On her end, Xiao Qingyu also seemed startled by Ji Yan’s appearance. She asked hesitantly, "Elder Ji, how... how is your condition right now?"
Ji Yan, at the peak of the Emergence Stage, would normally have no trouble handling a mere four Venerables. The problem was... his current mental state looked worryingly unstable. The last thing they needed was for him to suffer a cultivation deviation and kill everyone, friend and foe alike. That would be a catastrophic loss.
***
My condition?
Seeing the look on Xiao Qingyu’s face, a look of concern one might show a mental patient, Ji Yan cracked a wide grin. "My condition is better than ever!"
With that, he slowly extended his right hand and pointed a single finger into the air. In an instant, the void shattered, revealing three distinct layers of black, empty space. His fingertip pierced through the third layer of the void—this was a technique of a Saint!
***
Seeing Ji Yan’s smiling face, both Xiao Qingyu and Li Zuoyue wore expressions of pure shock.
Elder Ji... had achieved a breakthrough!!