"E-Elder Yun, wh-what's going on?"
The weakest of the three Tier Nine Martial Saints asked, stammering.
Aside from him, everyone elseāincluding Elder Yun and the second-strongest expert, Qinghan Venerableāwore grim expressions.
The situation had far exceeded their expectations.
'Dead! He was actually killed in a single shot? Are these two brats from the Lu Family really that incredible?'
Everyone who had perceived the earlier scene was roaring inwardly.
It was simply too hard to believe.
A mere child, yet he could kill a Tier Seven Martial Saint Level expert in a single blow.
It was unbelievable.
But the truth was so stark, leaving no room for doubt.
Thus, at this moment, the experts of the Profound Celestial Sect, including Elder Yun, fell silent.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Qinghan Venerable, dressed in a green robe, suddenly spoke up. "Elder Yun, why don't I go and test them again?"
His words immediately made everyone's eyes light up.
But Elder Yun shook his head. "No. Your talent is the greatest among us. Your future achievements may even surpass my own."
"But Elder Yun, are we just going to stand here and do nothing?"
"Of course not. You can't go, but he can. Jiuhe Venerable, you are also at the True Tier Ninth Layer. You will go this time. How does that sound?"
Although Elder Yun's words sounded like a suggestion, his tone was no different from a command.
Jiuhe Venerableāthe weakest of the three Tier Nine Martial Saints and the same man who had been flattering Elder Yun just moments beforeānodded and stepped out from their ranks.
He couldn't refuse.
Besides, as a Tier Nine Martial Saint Level expert, he refused to believe he would die at the hands of a mere child.
Thus, Jiuhe Venerable's figure flashed.
Just like Tianyuan Venerable before him, he entered Lu Fangliang's sensory range.
However, unlike Tianyuan Venerable's carelessness, Jiuhe Venerable was filled with caution.
He remained constantly aware of any changes in his surroundings.
His strength was greater, and his experience was far richer.
For Lu Fangliang to deal with him would be far more difficult than dealing with Tianyuan Venerable and Star Sword Venerable had been.
And indeed, upon sensing his approach, Lu Fangliang did not act immediately.
He was hesitant.
'I only have one Greater Yang God Arrow left. If I use itā¦'
Lu Fangliang couldn't make up his mind.
He knew that one Immortal Cultivator had just shown up.
And now, only a moment later, another had arrived.
Clearly, quite a few Immortal Cultivators had probably gathered nearby.
If he used his last trump card nowā¦
ā¦he would soon be powerless to defend himself.
Although his own power was formidableā¦
ā¦Lu Fangliang could sense that these newly arrived Immortal Cultivators were each stronger than the last. None of them were weak. Without the Greater Yang God Arrowā¦
ā¦he couldn't defeat a single one.
'In that case, my only option is to stall for time! I have to hold out until Brother Yang wakes up!'
'No matter what, I can't let Brother Yang be attacked right now. He trusted me enough to cultivate in my presence. If I can't even handle something this simple, how can I call myself his brother?'
Lu Fangliang steeled his resolve.
He retracted the Greater Yang God Arrow.
His gaze, however, remained fixed in the direction of Jiuhe Venerable's approach.
He was nervous inside, but his expression was calm and composed.
As if he had everything under control.
'This kidā¦ why did he just retract that Divine Technique?'
This, in turn, made Jiuhe Venerable, who had been observing him, begin to have second thoughts.
Although he was a Tier Nine Martial Saint Level being, he was actually quite afraid of dying.
His temperament wasn't very resolute either.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sucking up to Elder Yun.
So, when Lu Fangliang retracted his Divine Technique, it unexpectedly made Jiuhe Venerable feel as though he were facing a formidable foe.
'Could it be? Does this kid have an even more powerful move?'
At this thought, Jiuhe Venerable's expression tensed.
After all, Lu Fangliang's previous arrow had directly obliterated a Tier Seven Martial Saint.
And Jiuhe Venerable's own power allowed him to sense just how potent that arrow had been.
Although he felt he could dodge itā¦ and even if he couldn't, that he had ways to block itā¦
ā¦deep down, he knew the arrow's power was great enough to threaten his life.
He was naturally incredibly wary of Lu Fangliang.
Especially now.
He felt even more strongly that the boy might be holding another trump card.
At this, he halted his advance.
He hesitated, not daring to press forward.
'Huh? He actually stopped. What's going on? Was he fooled by my bluff?'
Lu Fangliang was puzzled for a moment, but then his eyes lit up.
What he needed most right now was time.
As long as he could stall for enough time for Yang Xiao to wake up.
With their combined strength and one more Greater Yang God Arrowā¦
ā¦even if they couldn't win, they could still escape.
It was nothing like his current situation, where escape was impossible.
He was completely on the defensive.
Therefore, Jiuhe Venerable's hesitation was undoubtedly a good thing for him.
But while the timid Jiuhe Venerable had stoppedā¦
ā¦in the distance, Elder Yun and Qinghan Venerable frowned.
The more aggressive of the two, Qinghan Venerable, sent a direct voice transmission: "Jiuhe, what are you waiting for? Are you really afraid of a mere child?"
Upon hearing this, Jiuhe Venerable was furious.
He felt it was precisely because of Qinghan Venerable that he was now fated to be the bait.
But when he thought of Elder Yun's cold gazeā¦
ā¦he didn't dare show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. He didn't even dare to send a voice transmission to argue back or refuse Qinghan Venerable.
Instead, he obediently started moving forward again.
Only this time, because he was deliberately stallingā¦
ā¦his pace was slow.
A short distance of less than three hundred li took him nearly a quarter of an hour to cross.
Qinghan Venerable and the others waited, burning with impatience.
Lu Fangliang, however, was inwardly delighted.
However, for a Tier Nine Martial Saint Level expert, three hundred li was ultimately a very short distance.
After a quarter of an hourā¦
ā¦Jiuhe Venerable stood before Lu Fangliang.
"Brat, you've got some nerve, daring to kill someone from my Profound Celestial Sect. Today, I will show you the might of the Profound Celestial Sect!"
Jiuhe Venerable wasn't entirely shameless. Having delayed for so long, he could stall no more now that he was face-to-face with Lu Fangliang. So, without another word, he lashed out, his hand clawing toward Lu Fangliang.
The color drained from Lu Fangliang's face.
He knew that even though this was just a casual strike from Jiuhe Venerableā¦
ā¦it was already far beyond his ability to handle.
In his desperation, a brilliant light once again erupted from his body.
He had summoned his last Greater Yang God Arrow.
"Hmm?"
Jiuhe Venerable's expression changed.
But he quickly saw through to the heart of the matter.
"Clever boy. You summoned two before, but now there's only one. It looks like this Secret Skill of yours has its limits, doesn't it?"
The moment Jiuhe Venerable said thisā¦
ā¦Lu Fangliang's mind went blank, and he froze on the spot.
'A perfect chance!'
Jiuhe Venerable struck again, this time with both claws.
He seized Lu Fangliang, pinning him in his grasp.
Lu Fangliang was completely immobilized.
The situation had suddenly become critical.
*(Author's Note: Chapter two is here. Please add this to your collection!)*