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Chapter 128: Senior Sect Brother Xiao, Don't Go—It's Too Dangerous!
Chapter 128: Senior Sect Brother Xiao, Don't Go—It's Too Dangerous!
After defeating Ding Sanlei, Xiao Chen retrieved his storage bag and continued forward with Huang Haoran as planned, rather than stopping to crack it open. If they'd been ambushed by demonic cultivators, that only confirmed their chosen direction was correct. Xiao Chen felt certain they'd uncover the hidden conspiracy soon enough.
As they advanced, a sudden explosion echoed from the distance.
"Hmm? What's happening?" Xiao Chen climbed to a higher vantage point, gazing northwest. The Wanyao Mountain Range teemed with yao beasts, which was why he'd used sword techniques deliberately against Ding Sanlei earlier—to minimize noise and avoid attracting powerful creatures. But these consecutive explosions suggested a desperate cultivator had abandoned caution, unleashing full force.
"Could that be Elder Liu from the Spirit Medicine Garden?" Huang Haoran joined him, squinting into the distance. "It must be nearly eleven miles away. Foundation Building late-stage clashes create quite the commotion."
His voice brimmed with excitement. "Elder Liu must've found the demonic cultivators and started attacking the Demon Head. Senior Sect Brother Xiao, let's hurry over—we might capture some underlings and earn contribution points!"
Elder Liu, a Foundation Building peak expert, was among Lihuo Sect's strongest Golden Core disciples. Huang Haoran's confidence was understandable.
Xiao Chen thought the commotion seemed excessive, but assumed it was just a late-stage Foundation Building opponent forcing Elder Liu's hand. Since they were close, he agreed to investigate. "Fine, let's go."
They weaved through dense forests and over ridges, but the battle sounds faded rapidly.
"This fast?" Xiao Chen frowned. Had the fight concluded in just fifteen minutes?
Huang Haoran sighed, more disappointed than surprised. "Elder Liu's too quick. I was hoping—"
Before he finished, a fiery pillar erupted skyward like a flaming column. The hundreds-of-feet-high inferno pierced the clouds, impossible to miss.
"That's the Heaven-Piercing Mysterious Flame Pillar!" Huang Haoran paled, grabbing Xiao Chen's arm. "Senior Sect Brother, something's wrong—we shouldn't go closer!"
Xiao Chen turned to him. "Why?"
Huang Haoran's gaze remained fixed on the flame. "You might not recognize it, but this is the Liu Clan's ultimate top-grade magical artifact. Its appearance means Elder Liu is at a disadvantage. He's using it both for defense and to signal for help. We should return to the sect immediately to request reinforcements."
Elder Liu losing? Xiao Chen's heart clenched. Were there multiple late-stage Foundation Building enemies? Or someone even stronger?
Still, he shook his head. "You return for help. I'll scout ahead."
Huang Haoran blocked his path. "Senior Sect Brother Xiao, don't go—it's too dangerous! You might want to help, but our involvement would be meaningless in a Foundation Building peak clash. Elder Liu activated his top-grade artifact, so he should hold out. If the situation worsens, that's even more reason to stay away."
Xiao Chen understood his logic. The power gap between cultivation stages was vast. Interfering recklessly could prove fatal, and fewer people might ease Elder Liu's defensive burden. If even a top-grade artifact failed, only a Golden Core expert could retaliate.
"I have a concealment technique", Xiao Chen countered, hiding his cultivation realm. "I'll just observe. Besides—" He revealed his brocade handkerchief, its top-grade artifact aura flaring, "—I have this top-grade defensive treasure."
Huang Haoran gaped, stunned. After a decade as a Foundation Building cultivator without acquiring such an artifact, how did Xiao Chen...?
"Time's short", Xiao Chen urged. "You handle reinforcements—I'll assess the situation."
Huang Haoran shook himself awake. "Senior Sect Brother, I'll return with help immediately!"
Xiao Chen pressed forward, arriving at the Blood Plague Forbidden Realm's cave entrance. The battle had become a one-sided siege. Elder Liu, abandoning offense, wielded twin flame shields from his Heaven-Piercing Mysterious Flame Pillar, desperately parrying Ding Sanlei's relentless sword strikes.
Ding Sanlei, avoiding further noise, had switched entirely to sword techniques, battering Elder Liu's defenses. Without counterattacks, Elder Liu's defense became flawless, frustrating Ding Sanlei's advances.
"Zhishui Liu", Ding Sanlei taunted mid-assault, "you've already suffered my Yellow Springs Hungry Ghost technique and triple mana consumption. How much mana remains? How much longer can you endure?"
Xiao Chen spotted the spectral ghost clinging to Elder Liu's back as the elder cultivator focused silently on deflecting blades.
"Yield now", Ding Sanlei offered. "Join the Divine Flame Cult, and I'll spare your life. After toppling Lihuo Sect, I'll even recommend you to the Divine Sovereign himself."
Xiao Chen nearly snorted aloud. Dare you speak of 'abandoning darkness for light'?
(End of Chapter)
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