บท 167: Chapter 166: The Sage!
Amidst the mountain range, two figures flickered and chased each other. One of them was Gu Zhen, who was struggling to keep up with the figure ahead.
"Gu Yao, come back right now!"
Suddenly, the space in front flickered, and Gu Qingsun quietly blocked Gu Yao's path, staring at the young man solemnly.
"Brother Qingsun!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, both Gu Yao and Gu Zhen were startled. Gu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief; with Brother Qingsun here, Gu Yao wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.
"Brother Qingsun, move aside!" Gu Yao's expression was serious, a strand of his black-and-white hair swayed gently in the breeze, revealing a pair of cold eyes underneath.
"Gu Yao, do you want to go get yourself killed?" Gu Qingsun's expression was more serious than ever, even carrying a rare hint of anger.
"I..." Gu Yao was at a loss for words but then unwillingness flashed across his face, "Brother Qingsun, I just want to see what kind of enemy I'll face in the future. I don't want to fight a faceless enemy every day without knowing how strong they are."
"He is not just your enemy; he is the enemy of our entire Hei Yan Army." Gu Qingsun said sternly, looking into Gu Yao's unwilling eyes.
He couldn't forget the feeling of powerlessness when facing Yun Yi on the Northwest Continent back then. After returning to the Gu clan, he had trained hard and had now reached the level of a Five-Star Douzong, progressing rapidly.
However, they had recently received news that Yun Yi was nearing the end of the Dou Zun stage and had already slain countless Dou Zuns. The terrifying speed of his cultivation was astonishing, bringing immense pressure like a mountain.
"Brother Qingsun, he insulted Xun Er. I need to know how strong he is so I have a goal to strive for, rather than fighting an invisible enemy every day." As he spoke, anger flashed in Gu Yao's eyes, furious about the insult to Gu Xun Er and the Hei Yan Army.
"You will die!" Gu Qingsun stared seriously at Gu Yao, feeling somewhat helpless. Yun Yi was putting immense pressure on the Hei Yan Army. If Gu Yao appeared before him, Yun Yi wouldn't hesitate to kill him, disregarding the Gu clan's face.
Of course, with Yun Yi's pride, as long as Gu Yao didn't provoke him, he wouldn't bother with him. But looking at Gu Yao's stubborn face, Gu Qingsun felt a headache coming on; he clearly looked like someone who wouldn't avoid trouble.
He feared Yun Yi would crush Gu Yao with a single punch.
Although it had been some time since he had last faced Yun Yi, just hearing the current news about him brought a sense of suffocation to Gu Qingsun.
Gu Yao didn't easily give up, still persistently staring at Gu Qingsun, causing the latter to grow more and more troubled. If this issue wasn't handled properly, it could become a knot in Gu Yao's heart, potentially increasing the risk of a breakthrough failure.
"Qingsun, let them go. Let Gu Lin lead them. Are the sons of the Gu clan cowards?"
At this moment, a voice like an aged bell rang in their ears, startling the three of them. Gu Yao immediately responded respectfully to the void, "Thank you, Elder."
"Go, I'll have Tong Xuan lead you. Remember, the sons of the Gu clan are not weak!"
"Understood!"
With the elder's support, the reactions varied: Gu Zhen remarked, "Is Uncle Lin leading the team? Has he come out of seclusion? Has he successfully broken through to the half-Saint stage?"
Gu Qingsun pondered and then shook his head. "He came out a while ago, but breaking through to the half-Saint stage isn't easy."
Gu Lin, the former leader of the Hei Yan Army, possessing a Seven-Star Bloodline, had been stuck at the peak of Nine-Turn Dou Zun for many years. He had been in seclusion to break through to the half-Saint stage but seemed to have failed.
"What a pity!" Gu Zhen remarked in disappointment.
While they were talking, Gu Yao gazed in the direction of Zhongzhou with a face full of battle intent.
In Sacred Pill City, the situation was quite different. Within the Dan Domain, soul senses constantly swept back and forth like an impenetrable net, detecting even the smallest intrusion.
"In this past month, we've engaged in twenty-seven battles with the Soul Palace. Both sides have suffered losses, although we have managed to fend off many attacks from the Soul Palace, killing numerous Dou Zuns. Yet, we have also lost many of our own."
Inside the grand hall, Xuan Kongzi scanned the gathered elders and guest ministers, speaking heavily.
"The Soul Palace's Young Master is extremely powerful. In the heat of battle, most of our losses were at his hands."
Tian Leizi spoke with resentment. As he mentioned Yun Yi, many in the hall revealed looks of fear, with some even trembling uncontrollably, recalling the overwhelming power of their adversary.
"However, there's no need to be afraid. They have Yun Yi, and we have Guest Minister Jiang!" Xuan Kongzi glared disapprovingly at Tian Leizi, who seemed to undermine their morale with his words.
Scanning the room, Xuan Kongzi finally focused on Jiang Yun, smiling as he said, "Jiang Yun has slain both the Eight and Ninth Heavenly Zuns of the Soul Palace. He is not inferior to the Young Master of the Soul Palace!"
"Yes, Master Jiang is undoubtedly Zhongzhou's number one genius. Yun Yi could only rampage because Master Jiang was not around."
"Exactly, next time Master Jiang meets him, he'll send him to his death."
"As expected, when Xuan Kongzi mentioned this, the atmosphere in the hall lightened, and many people began to flatter the young figure seated behind the Eight Elders.
"I'm not worthy of such praise, but Jiang Yun also wishes to meet the Young Master of the Soul Palace. Our fight on the Northwest Continent was inconclusive," Jiang Yun, filled with battle intent, said enthusiastically amidst the flattery.
"Oh? Jiang Yun, you had a conflict with Yun Yi on the Northwest Continent?" Hearing Jiang Yun, many in the hall focused their attention on him.
"Actually…."
"Boom—"
Just as Jiang Yun was about to explain, a massive explosion resounded from outside. Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, Xuanye, and Jiang Yun all cast their sharp gazes outward.
At the sky, a pitch-black crack suddenly appeared, and out from it reached a withered, skeletal hand, engulfed in terrifying force, striking towards the Star Domain's spatial node.
"Not good, the Soul Palace intends to break into the Star Domain!"
Seeing this, Xuan Kongzi and the others were horrified and instinctively tore open space to rush to the Star Domain.
"Cough cough, it's best if you all stay put. Acting rashly might cost you your lives."
At that moment, a cold emotionless voice echoed in the hall. The space in the center of the hall twisted, and thick black mist seeped out. Amidst continuous coughing, an old man in gray and white robes emerged from the rift, capturing everyone's attention.
The elder, hunched and leaning on a skull cane, had sunken eyes that flashed with eerie green light, emanating a sinister and strange aura.
"Soul Palace's Second Heavenly Zun, Bone Ghost?"
"A half-Saint?!"
"Chaotic flames are a naturally occurring wonder. Your Dan Tower hasn't treated it well, so my Soul Palace is more than willing to oblige," Bone Ghost ignored the gazes of others, laughing eerily.
"Get lost!"
Sensing the hand about to descend on the Star Domain, Xuan Kongzi roared in anger. The three giants of the Dan Tower connected their energies, launching three terrifying attacks at Bone Ghost.
Bone Ghost's eyes, glowing with green light, looked towards the trio, a peculiar smile surfacing on his skeletal face. "Let me show you the difference between a half-Saint and a Dou Zun."
With that, Bone Ghost's figure flashed, his overwhelming energy sweeping outwards. His withered hand, resembling an eagle's claw, tore through space and easily shredded the trio's attacks.
His gaze then fell on Jiang Yun. "Is this Zhongzhou's number one genius? Let me see if you're worthy to be compared with our Young Master..."
As Bone Ghost finished his sentence, his figure vanished mysteriously.
Jiang Yun remained calm, rapidly retreating, his white, flaming hand emitting a terrifying heat as it struck at where Bone Ghost would appear.
"Boom—"
The strike distorted space, revealing the hunched silhouette of Bone Ghost. His palm, surrounded by an eerie black crystalline layer, resisted the Immortal Sacred Flame.
With every step Jiang Yun took back, ripples emanated from his feet. Bone Ghost, curious, said, "Interesting technique, dissipating force into the void."
A slight sting in his hand made Bone Ghost glance down, only to see the black crystalline layer pierced by the Immortal Sacred Flame, his palm now scorched red.
"A peculiar flame indeed. If it weren't different from the Flame of Life, I'd have thought it was the Flame of Life." Bone Ghost's energy extinguished the fire, looking at Jiang Yun with surprise and concealed greed.
"Bone Ghost—"
At this moment, Xuan Kongzi and the others attacked once more. As three seasoned Nine-Turn Dou Zuns, their long-standing synergy made them a formidable force even against an early-stage half-Saint.
"Then die!" Bone Ghost sneered, turning to attack them.
"Boom—"
Terrifying energy ripples ensued, causing the Dan Tower to quake, as if on the verge of collapse.
Amidst the chaos, the skeletal hand continued descending, seemingly ready to tear the Star Domain apart.
"Enough!"
A voice mixed with anger rang out. Suddenly, a fire dragon emerged from the sky, attacking the skeletal hand.
"Hmph, old man, you've finally shown up?"
The hand's owner snorted, redirecting the hand towards the fire dragon.
"Boom—"
A violent explosion above Sacred Pill City erupted, with the ensuing energy storm distorting the surrounding space.
In the air above the Dan Tower, space twisted slightly, revealing seven elderly figures.
Among them, four exuded especially powerful auras, having reached the Sacred Realm. The middle one, donned in simple robes, remained calm and composed.
He was the Grand Elder of the Minor Dan Tower, a Two-Star Dou Saint, the most powerful and oldest figure in the Dan Tower besides the frequently traveling patriarch.
Sweeping his gaze over the battling Xuan Kongzi and others, the Grand Elder coldly snorted, "The Soul Palace sends a Sage to attack us. Are you declaring full-scale war?"
During the battle, Bone Ghost felt a terrifying presence in his soul, momentarily distracting him. When he regained his senses, the three's attacks were already upon him.
"Damn it!"
Cursing, Bone Ghost turned into a cloud of black mist, evading and reappearing far away, glaring at the Grand Elder and Xuan Kongzi.
Since breaking through to the half-Saint stage, he had never been so disgraced by Dou Zuns.
"Grand Elder!"
Driving off Bone Ghost, Xuan Kongzi and the others sighed in relief, and with their followers, flew respectfully towards the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder hovered in mid-air, looking into the distant void, speaking solemnly, "Sages follow their own rules. Are you breaking them, Soul Palace?"
"Hehe, the times have changed, old man. Do you really think we came here just for a leisurely trip?"
The void twisted as a skeleton-thin elder with an eerie aura emerged. Dressed in black robes, his sunken face and glowing eyes gave an unsettling appearance.
"Both sides have casualties. Retreat now. Soul Palace, do you really want mutual destruction?" The Grand Elder responded with a cold, murderous tone.
"Fish may die, but the net won't break!" The old man slowly raised his head, his dry face illuminated eerily, and with a terrifyingly raspy voice, he replied.
With this statement, the atmosphere became even more tense as both sides faced off in the air.
"Huh?"
After a while, the Grand Elder looked puzzled at the old man, unsure of his intentions.
"They should be here!" Suddenly, the old man looked at the sky with a twisted smile, causing an unease among the Dan Tower members.
"Crack—"
In the silent void, a faint cracking sound abruptly echoed in everyone's ears.
The Grand Elder and others turned to see the previously flawless Star Domain seal cracking, revealing a figure in white robes standing quietly.
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