Leaving the Pass

To think that this peach blossom tree could actually heal injuries!

While everyone was still in shock, they suddenly realized that the Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Tree was visibly shrinking before their eyes.

In just a short while, the once massive and ancient tree gradually became much thinner.

Seeing this, the hearts of the surrounding crowd could not help but leap into their throats.

Was this peach blossom tree, which had accompanied them for so many days, going to disappear just like that?

Fortunately, it did not continue to shrink. After shedding a layer of its bulk, it stopped.

Only then did the onlookers let out a long breath, finally able to set their anxious hearts at ease.

As for the continuous curses of the Nascent Soul cultivator outside, everyone just pretended not to hear them.

Now that everyone was safe, he could curse all he wanted.

Mo Yuanjiao and Mo Que, who had just woken up from their comas, saw that they had safely returned to the sect. Only then did their tense nerves finally relax.

When General Mo got up from the ground, he saw an absurdly large wild pheasant staring at him from the side.

The next moment, he felt a massive suction force pull him onto the mountain path covered in peach blossom petals, and then he lost consciousness.

Seeing that no one had paid him any attention after half a day of cursing, Wei Hai felt completely infuriated. He raised his hand, preparing to destroy the village below to vent his anger.

Unexpectedly, a streak of spiritual energy flew from behind him, striking the right hand he was about to cast a spell with.

Who is it! Get the hell out here and face your grandfather! Wei Hai was going mad with anger. Nothing was going right for him today!

Earlier, when he attacked the Shangyang Sect, it had been so easy. Aside from taking a bit of time to break their mountain-protecting grand array, there hadn't been a single hiccup.

He turned to see an old man standing at the entrance of the village, looking up at him. An aged voice slowly said:

I ask this fellow Daoist to show mercy. This is the home of the citizens of my Pusi Kingdom, it cannot be destroyed at will.

Seeing that the newcomer was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator he had never met before, Wei Hai thought for a moment and roughly guessed the old man's identity.

Could it be the imperial Li family's ancestor, Li Zhanying, standing before me?

He knew roughly who the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Pusi Kingdom were. The only one he hadn't met was this Li Zhanying, who was in year-round seclusion. Combined with what the man just said, Wei Hai guessed it had to be him.

Seeing that he had guessed his identity so quickly, Li Zhanying was not too surprised. He only said:

To think that even after this old man has been in seclusion for so many years, fellow Daoist could still guess my identity at once. I ask fellow Daoist to give face to my Li family, be magnanimous, and spare the homes of my country's citizens.

Hearing this, Wei Hai stayed his hand and said:

Since you have stepped forward, I will give you face and not destroy this place. But if you interfere in the grudge between me and this new sect, I will not hold back!

Despite his words, Wei Hai merely wanted to probe and see if Li Zhanying's appearance at this moment meant he was here to help the new sect.

Although he did not think highly of this Li family ancestor who only knew how to hide in the imperial palace in deep seclusion, the man was still a Nascent Soul cultivator after all. If he really went all out against him, even if Wei Hai was confident that his skills were superior, his own strength would inevitably be greatly depleted.

Not to mention, he was currently injured. Although he didn't show it, the previous lightning tribulation and that ice dragon had caused him no small amount of damage.

Thinking of the lightning tribulation, Wei Hai suddenly looked up at the sky.

He realized that the lightning tribulation had stopped at some unknown point, and the dark clouds in the sky had long since vanished.

Below, Li Zhanying nodded slightly upon hearing Wei Hai's words:

Rest assured, fellow Daoist. My Li family has never interfered in the grudges between cultivators, so long as fellow Daoist does not affect the survival of our mortal citizens.

The Li family only allied with sects to maintain their kingdom within the mortal realm.

Therefore, at the founding of the Pusi Kingdom, the rule was established: they must not interfere in any issues between cultivators or sects, and would only ally with sects to protect their territory and people.

Not making enemies lightly was the Li family's key to survival.

Receiving his reply, Wei Hai turned around in satisfaction. He resumed tossing spells at the Lingxian Sect's mountain-protecting grand array to bombard it from time to time, while his mouth continuously spat out curses drawn from hundreds of years of vulgar vocabulary.

Unexpectedly, just as he raised his hand again to throw a massive fireball at the Lingxian Sect's grand array, clamoring, Are you cowardly turtles only going to hide in your shells? Come out quickly and let your grandfather teach you how to behave!

A wooden sword tore through the air, striking directly at his giant fireball!

The moment the tip of the sword met the fireball, a sound like clashing metal and stone rang out. The next instant, the massive fireball exploded with a boom!

It shattered into millions of sparks that instantly blanketed the sky above the Lingxian Sect.

Then, Wei Hai heard a very youthful, cold voice echo from the opposite side:

What is this cowardly turtle wailing about?

Immediately after, Wei Hai and Li Zhanying, who had also flown into the air, saw a handsome young man with a tall, straight posture dressed entirely in white stepping out from the sky full of floating flames.

The peach wood sword that had shattered the giant fireball instantly flew back into Lin Xiao's hand. He looked expressionlessly at Wei Hai in the air opposite him, flicking the wooden sword in his hand with a resonant, metallic sword intent.

Seeing that he was merely a youth who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, Wei Hai coldly snorted,

Just you...

However, before he could finish his words, he saw Lin Xiao raise his sword and swing it at him with all his might!

The Third Stance of the Sword Art of the Clouds!

Mountains and Rivers Annihilated into the Clouds!

In an instant, it was as if all the spiritual energy in this realm was drawn to the sword in Lin Xiao's hand, flowing toward it before being slashed forward by him. Clouds and mist seemed to surge around this burst of sword energy.

Wei Hai saw a colossal wave of sword energy hurtling toward him, blotting out the sky. Before he could even react, he was instantly struck!

The sword energy ruthlessly crushed over his body, blasting him thousands of meters away.

Fortunately, although the sword energy was massive, the actual damage it inflicted on Wei Hai was not too severe. Blown away, he stabilized his posture in mid-air. Enduring the pain all over his body, he immediately swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill and looked at this very young man with a solemn expression.

Could this youth be the person from this new sect who was breaking through just now?

Wei Hai could not see through this person's cultivation level, just like those few ants from before.

He figured that this sect either had a cultivation method capable of hiding one's cultivation level or possessed a treasure that could do so.

However, feeling the intensity of this person's spiritual energy, he couldn't immediately distinguish whether this person was at the Golden Core stage or the Nascent Soul stage.

If he was at the Golden Core stage, his spiritual energy was far too tyrannical and robust. Even Wei Hai, an existence on the verge of the mid-Nascent Soul stage, felt that dealing with him would be somewhat troublesome—completely unlike the Golden Core cultivators he had encountered in the past whom he could casually beat down.

But if he was at the Nascent Soul stage, that would be a bit too absurd...

Wei Hai took another look at the person opposite him, whose appearance was incredibly young, even retaining a hint of childishness.

If that was the case, then this person's true age was definitely not what his appearance suggested!

He must have used a Face Retaining Pill, just like himself!

And he must have used it when he was very young!

That had to be it!