Across the vast land, a large group was hurrying along, their expressions seemingly rushed, each face bearing a hint of gravity. Behind them, an even larger group was closing in.
This was the Taiqing Palace's group, and the one chasing after them was the Yuan Gate's group.
Under Yuan Cang's lead, the Yuan Gate's group could be said to be traveling day and night, constantly trying to catch up with the Taiqing Palace.
"Senior Sister, what do we do? The Yuan Gate people seem to have special means to track our location."
Su Rou's face showed some worry. She didn't know why, but even though she had been using Cheng Huang's special abilities to conceal their aura and had even set up illusionary formations, it seemed to be of no use. The Yuan Gate people could easily catch up to them.
Ling Qingzhu didn't speak upon hearing this. She had a feeling about some things. She suspected that Yuan Cang had used some special methods to see through Su Rou's secret techniques. Of course, there was another possibility: that some of the Taiqing Palace disciples had been secretly tainted by Demonic Contamination.
Of course, it might not necessarily be Demonic Contamination. It was possible that someone had been secretly controlled. As for who it was, it would be difficult to find out. After all, for the sake of safety and secrecy, the person being secretly controlled was likely unaware of the Demonic Qi within their body, or perhaps there was no Demonic Qi at all, so they wouldn't be considered a Demon Spawn.
With such internal and external cooperation, it wasn't impossible for the Yuan Gate people to catch up to them.
It was even possible that they hadn't completely surrendered to the Otherworldly Demons, but were forced to temporarily provide Yuan Cang with some information. Or perhaps, that disciple was already dead, just temporarily alive.
"Su Rou, you lead the team to the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury first. It is said that Lin Dong, Junior Brother Lin, from Dao Sect, has found the method to open the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury. I have agreed with Senior Sister Ying to meet there."
Ling Qingzhu said softly. She didn't reveal the matter of the internal mole, as that would only create panic and suspicion without any practical benefit. Compared to that, it was better not to say anything. When the time came, the mole would eventually reveal themselves.
Or perhaps, after completely dealing with the Yuan Gate disciples in the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, wouldn't that mole be easily manipulated?
The top priority was to ensure the safety of the Taiqing Palace disciples and to successfully join forces with Dao Sect in the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury. Then, with the combined strength of the two sects, they could deal with Yuan Gate.
"Then what about you, Senior Sister?"
Although Su Rou had already guessed Ling Qingzhu's intentions, she still asked with some concern. Ling Qingzhu didn't answer immediately, but stared at the Yuan Gate disciples who were constantly approaching from behind, and whispered coldly.
"I'll stay behind and stop the Yuan Gate people."
"But, Senior Sister..."
Before Su Rou could finish speaking, Ling Qingzhu interrupted her.
"Don't worry, I have my own way to escape. A mere group of remnants can't threaten me!"
Ling Qingzhu had long been impatient with Yuan Cang. She had been cultivating the Supreme Induction Sutra since she was young and had always been averse to matters of love between men and women. Moreover, she had repeatedly and explicitly stated that she had no intention of pursuing such things. As a result, Yuan Cang was simply like a piece of dog skin plaster, seemingly gentle and refined each time, but always sticking to her, which had long made Ling Qingzhu dissatisfied.
Just right, this time, she would give that Demon Spawn a little lesson first.
Su Rou hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded lightly. Then, with a wave of her small hand, she led the Taiqing Palace disciples towards the direction of the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury.
After watching Su Rou lead the Taiqing Palace disciples away, Ling Qingzhu's face also carried a hint of coldness. Since Yuan Cang wanted to test her strength, then she didn't need to continue hiding it. Anyway, they were already in the Otherworldly Demon Domain, and Yuan Cang couldn't transmit the news out.
It could be said that at this moment, all the previous arrangements had been finalized. Now it was a matter of comparing the cards each side had prepared, to see whose cards were better and stronger.
And in terms of strength, she, Ling Qingzhu, was not afraid of Yuan Cang at all!
Above the wasteland, the dark and cold wind howled quietly, like the low whispers of demons, or like painful murmurs, echoing in the empty and desolate world.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a large number of sounds of wind breaking shattered this lonely and deathly atmosphere. Immediately afterward, hundreds of figures arrived before this solitary peak.
Above the solitary peak, a figure in white clothes stood gracefully, a long Sword pointing diagonally at the ground in her hand, her Dai Eyebrows lowered, a clear and detached temperament, like a cold moon fairy, making people dare not look directly at her.
Yuan Cang's figure suddenly stopped in the air, raising his head to look up at that detached figure, his eyes carrying a hint of amazement. Immediately afterward, his face became solemn, and he said in a deep voice.
"Qingzhu, are you trying to block my path?"
"Now that there are no outsiders, why bother being so secretive? Or do you think pretending to know me can mask that repulsive aura within you?"
Hearing Yuan Cang's address, Ling Qingzhu's Dai Eyebrows furrowed, a flash of coldness in her eyes. Ling Qingzhu never had a good impression of Yuan Cang, and now that he had fallen into the Demon Prison, becoming a mortal enemy, Yuan Cang's address only made Ling Qingzhu feel more uncomfortable.
Hearing Ling Qingzhu's words, Yuan Cang's face instantly darkened. After falling into the Demon Prison, what he hated most was people mentioning the repulsive aura within him.
Even Ling Qingzhu, the only woman in Yuan Cang's heart worthy of him, angered Yuan Cang by hitting his sore spot. In the heart of someone like Yuan Cang, he himself was always the most important, and everything else was just an appendage.
"Heh, originally, I was thinking of letting you go today for the sake of our past relationship. Since Qingzhu, you're so ungrateful, then don't blame me for being impolite!"
As he spoke, Yuan Cang also snorted coldly, and a cold and evil aura instantly released from his body, sweeping towards Ling Qingzhu.
Ling Qingzhu only sneered at Yuan Cang's high-sounding words. Yuan Cang probably could only fool himself with these words. Any normal person wouldn't believe a word of it. In fact, Ling Qingzhu felt disgusted and hypocritical after hearing it.
Both sides were already enemies, and mortal enemies at that, so why say such things to disgust people? If one were willing to leave a complete corpse after killing the other, that would be truly showing some respect. Saying impossible things and pretending to be so benevolent only seemed fake.
"Then let me see how much your strength has increased after becoming a ghost!"
Ling Qingzhu's mouth was also very venomous, directly poking at the most painful part of Yuan Cang's heart. One sentence directly made the expression on Yuan Cang's face twist.
Yuan Cang looked at the aloof and exquisite beauty opposite him. He saw Ling Qingzhu wave her slender hand, and a pure, cold aura instantly spread out. Under her feet, ice crystals spread to the surroundings.
At the same time, at the center of Ling Qingzhu's brow, an ancient and profound ice-blue rune slowly emerged, flashing with an ice-blue light. It was clearly not dazzling, but it was impossible to ignore.
"Ice Ancestor Symbol?"
Yuan Cang's face turned slightly cold. Although he had long known that Ling Qingzhu possessed the Ice Ancestor Symbol, until now, Yuan Cang had not truly witnessed the power of the Ancestor Symbol. All along, Yuan Cang had thought that although the power of the Ancestor Symbol was not bad, the Otherworldly Demonic Qi in his body would not be weaker than it. In addition, with his, Yuan Cang's, top talent, a mere Ancestor Symbol was not worth mentioning at all.
However, as soon as he saw this Ice Ancestor Symbol, a cold air was born in Yuan Cang's heart, making Yuan Cang feel that his body, soul, and Nascent Soul seemed to have a tendency to be frozen.
As soon as they met, the powerful power of the Ancestor Symbol directly gave Yuan Cang a head-on blow.
Instantly, Yuan Cang shuddered, and there was a bit more fear in his eyes looking at Ling Qingzhu, and a bit more rationality in his arrogant and conceited eyes.
With a solemn face, Yuan Cang also remembered Lei Qian and Ling Zhen standing beside him, as well as the large group of Yuan Gate disciples behind him, and immediately snorted coldly.
"Hmph, attack together, this place will be where you fall!"
As Yuan Cang spoke, the Otherworldly Demonic Qi in his body was no longer concealed, and the aura of the Great Accomplishment of Life Profound Realm suddenly rose, instantly releasing, and killing towards Ling Qingzhu with a monstrous baleful aura.
Behind Yuan Cang, Lei Qian and Ling Zhen looked at each other, and then completely released the Otherworldly Demonic Qi in their bodies. The auras of the Lesser Accomplishment of Life Profound Realm were also very impressive.
In the next moment, Lei Qian and Ling Zhen did not hesitate, and urged the Otherworldly Demonic Qi to attack Ling Qingzhu.
When Yuan Cang, Ling Zhen, and Lei Qian attacked Ling Qingzhu together, the remaining great spiritual generals of Yuan Gate also began to command the Yuan Gate disciples to form an array. Streaks of not weak auras quickly connected together, and soon, it was another combat power of the Great Accomplishment of Life Profound Realm.
Faced with the siege of Yuan Cang, Lei Qian, and Ling Zhen, Ling Qingzhu's face was still calm. With a wave of the long Sword in her hand, the aura of the Great Accomplishment of Life Profound Realm also shocked Yuan Cang and the other two.
However, in the next moment, Yuan Cang, who originally had a bit of fear on his face, had an even colder killing intent on his face. It could be seen from Ling Qingzhu's aura that although Ling Qingzhu had broken through to the Great Accomplishment of Life Profound Realm, it was only recently. After Ling Qingzhu completely stabilized in this realm, her combat power would probably increase by a level.
Therefore, now was the best opportunity to eliminate Ling Qingzhu, otherwise, it would be difficult to eliminate Ling Qingzhu in the Otherworldly Demon Domain.
"Yuan Emperor Canon, Heavenly Origin Hand!"
Yuan Cang shouted sharply, and a large hand grabbed towards Ling Qingzhu. Powerful Origin Power quickly condensed a large hand in the air. However, in the next moment, a more intense Otherworldly Demonic Qi surged up, instantly dyeing the original pure white hand into ink black, quickly merging with this evil and dark world.
Behind Yuan Cang, Lei Qian and Ling Zhen were not willing to be outdone, and all the Origin Power and Otherworldly Demonic Qi in their bodies were poured out.
"Thunder Emperor Scripture, Heavenly Thunder Punishment!"
"Spirit Emperor Point, Spirit Rhinoceros Finger!"
Above the firmament, a bolt of lightning rapidly brewed into shape, but just as it was about to strike, it changed from a dazzling silver color to a bizarre, pitch-black hue. Even its aura shifted from vast and majestic to sinister and evil, and its power weakened slightly.
Meanwhile, Ling Zhen's Origin Power continued to gather, condensing into a massive, pitch-black finger in the air, covered with various strange, dark Demonic Markings.
At the same time, the Yuan Gate disciples, who had already formed a large formation behind them, continuously poured Origin Power into the space, where it coalesced into a giant Sword, slashing towards Ling Qingzhu.
"Ice Ancestor Symbol, Ice Seal Thousands of Miles!"
Ling Qingzhu waved her fair hand, and as she swung her Sword, the ancient rune on her forehead flickered. A chilling aura emanated from the long Sword, rushing towards the approaching giant hand, finger, lightning, and Sword along with the Sword Qi.
Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the chilling aura spread, freezing the giant hand, finger, lightning, and Sword in mid-air before they shattered with a resounding crash.
However, after unleashing this Sword strike, Ling Qingzhu's delicate body swayed involuntarily. Clearly, this Sword was not as effortless as it seemed. For Ling Qingzhu, forcibly activating the powerful might of the Ice Ancestor Symbol was still quite a strain.
Seeing this, Yuan Cang on the opposite side couldn't help but reveal a cruel smile. He had also noticed this, and he was already contemplating how to humiliate Ling Qingzhu after defeating her. He was determined to let this Ice Master Reincarnator witness his, Yuan Cang's, methods.
What Ice Master Reincarnation Realm expert, what Ancient Eight Rulers? He, Yuan Cang, was the most talented person in the world. Perhaps, he might even be able to forcibly control the Ice Ancestor Symbol.
The so-called taboos and rules were for restraining ordinary people. They had no effect on a peerless genius like him, Yuan Cang. Forget the Ancient Eight Rulers, even if the Sword Saint were here...
Sword Saint!
Yuan Cang was just reveling in the glory of killing Ling Qingzhu and surpassing that man, but at this moment, he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he actually saw that man.
After shaking his head, Yuan Cang tried to shake the figure of that person out of his mind, but the next moment, Yuan Cang desperately realized that it didn't seem to be his illusion, but that person had really appeared here.
"Sword Saint? This is impossible, how could you enter the Otherworldly Demon Domain?"
Yuan Cang felt that this world was simply absurd. Experts above the Life Profound Realm could not enter the Otherworldly Demon Domain. This was common knowledge. Even the three Sect Leaders had tried every possible method but failed to enter, but now, how did Lin Xuan enter?
However, what responded to Yuan Cang was not an explanation, but a simple word.
"Scram!"
The calm voice echoed across the wasteland, but after hearing Lin Xuan's words, Yuan Cang did not hesitate at all. Without even thinking, he turned around and ran, and even Lei Qian and the others hurriedly followed.