Then, he transformed into a streak of earth-yellow Spiritual Light and sped ahead, guiding Li Changâan.
A little over ten breaths later,
a gravely injured, unconscious figure appeared before Li Changâan.
It was none other than Patriarch Mo, Mo Hong!
âMo Qingxueâs Core Formation Ceremony is just around the corner, yet Patriarch Mo is gravely injured near the Mo Clan Territory.â
Li Changâanâs brow furrowed. He walked over and sent a wisp of Magical Power into Mo Hong to assess his injuries.
The injuries were severe; his life was hanging by a thread.
But for a Cultivator of his realm,
as long as a single breath remained, he could be saved.
Li Changâan took out a few Elixir Pills and channeled their medicinal power into Mo Hongâs body.
A short while later,
Mo Hong shuddered and slowly awoke.
"Daoist Li... thank you for saving my life!"
"Daoist Mo, youâre truly plagued by disaster. What happened this time?"
"Sigh..."
Mo Hong let out a deep sigh.
In just a few short months, Li Changâan had saved him twice.
The phrase âplagued by disasterâ was indeed a fitting description for him.
His voice weak, he began to explain the reason for his injuries.
"It was Nie Wushuang."
"Nie Wushuang?"
"Yes. This morning, I went to one of our subordinate Foundation Establishment Clans to resolve a dispute. On my way back, I was suddenly ambushed by that Nie Wushuang..."
Nie Wushuang was a Golden Core Seed of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and the Ten Thousand Swords Sect was a rival of the Cyan Cloud Sect.
The Mo Family, in turn, had always supported the Cyan Cloud Sect.
The two sides were indeed enemies.
Although Mo Hongâs strength was considerable, he was simply no match for Nie Wushuang.
He fought a retreating battle, using numerous life-saving Treasures, but ultimately escaped with grave injuries. He fled to this spot before he could no longer hold on and collapsed into unconsciousness.
Just then,
Dahuang, who was hiding underground, suddenly sent out a warning: another personâs aura was rapidly approaching!
The aura was completely unfamiliar.
It didnât belong to any of the Mo Clan Members Li Changâan had met before.
âLooks like itâs probably that Nie Wushuang.â
Li Changâanâs expression turned grim.
He had no desire to confront Nie Wushuang right now.
"Daoist Mo, Nie Wushuang has likely followed you. We should leave this place."
"Daoist Li, thereâs no need to worry. Qingxue is already here."
"Oh? Elder Mo is here?"
Li Changâan spread his Divine Sense but couldnât detect Mo Qingxueâs aura.
He was, after all, only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Being a full Major Realm below her, it was perfectly normal that he couldnât find her.
A moment later,
an unfamiliar figure appeared above the sea of trees in the distance.
The man was quite young, clad in silver-white Armor and carrying a Longsword on his back. His aura was powerful, and he exuded an incisive sharpness.
It was the Golden Core Seed of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Nie Wushuang!
His gaze was piercing, like two streams of Sword Qi stabbing straight at Li Changâan and Mo Hong.
"Mo Hong, did you really think you could escape? Mo Qingxueâs Core Formation Ceremony is almost here. Iâll use your head, Patriarch Mo, as a congratulatory gift for her!"
Hearing this,
Mo Hongâs expression turned grim.
Li Changâan, however, cursed inwardly. âAnother one who likes using peopleâs heads as congratulatory gifts.â
At that moment,
Nie Wushuangâs murderous gaze fell upon Li Changâan.
"Who are you?"
"I am Li Changâan of Changqing Mountain. A pleasure to meet you, Daoist Nie."
"So itâs you. The Turtle!"
"..."
Li Changâan was speechless.
âWhen did that nickname of mine reach the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?â
Nie Wushuang stared at him and asked, "Li Changâan, Mo Hongâs injuries seem to have lessened. Was that your doing?"
Li Changâan didnât deny it.
"Thatâs right. Daoist Mo is a friend of mine. Seeing him injured, it was only natural that I would help."
"In that case, my sword shall claim another soul!"
Nie Wushuangâs killing intent erupted. With an astonishing display of power, eighteen Tier Two Top Grade Gold Element Spiritual Swords materialized before him.
Li Changâanâs eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Nie Wushuangâs every move.
Then,
the eighteen Spiritual Swords circled before him, forming a Sword Array teeming with Sword Qi. Rays of sword light shone with dazzling brilliance, thick with a fatal aura.
âAs expected, itâs incredibly similar to the Yi Wood Sword Array!â
Li Changâan thought.
He had only heard it described before, but today he was finally seeing it with his own eyes.
This Sword Array that Nie Wushuang wielded most likely shared the same origin as the Great Yi Wood Sword Array!
The power of this Sword Array was truly astonishing.
If it were unleashed,
not even a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator could withstand it!
But Nie Wushuang didnât unleash it. Instead, he stared intently to one side of Li Changâan and Mo Hong, his eyes filled with apprehension.
At some point,
Mo Qingxue had appeared nearby.
Her gaze was cold. She glanced at Nie Wushuang, but like him, she made no move to attack. Instead, she said flatly,
"Nie Yu, arenât you going to show yourself, you old fool?"
"Hehe, Daoist Mo is truly skilled to have discovered me."
A thin, wiry old man in linen clothes appeared not far away.
He too radiated Golden Core Magical Power, and his aura was especially formidable.
It was none other than Nie Wushuangâs grandfather, a Golden Core Master from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Nie Yu!
"Iâve always been confident in my concealment abilities. I wonder, how did you discover me, Daoist Mo?"
He showed no hostility, asking with a slight chuckle.
Mo Qingxue said coldly, "I didnât discover you. But if Nie Wushuang is here, you old dog must be nearby."
"I see."
Nie Yu smiled and moved to Nie Wushuangâs side.
It was now common knowledge.
The war between the Three Great Sects had started because of Nie Wushuang.
He had once fought three opponents at once, not only winning but also slaying one of them. That person had been the descendant of a Golden Core Master from the Red Flame Sect.
That Golden Core Master, casting aside all face, had furiously hunted Nie Wushuang down and nearly killed him.
Ever since then,
Nie Yu had protected Nie Wushuang, never straying far from his side.
"This boy is impulsive and quick to make enemies. I canât help but worry, so I have no choice but to follow him,"
Nie Yu said with a smile.
His Golden Core aura rivaled Mo Qingxueâs, but it was clear that neither of them intended to make a move.