The group from the Swordfire Divine Sect returned, utterly defeated.
Thinking of the loss of a foundational Elder at the Red Emperor Realm, the disciples were all dispirited and filled with sorrow.
As for the members of the Heavenly Moon Cult, they remained standing where they were, not daring to make a move or even breathe too loudly. This was because Luo Xiu had not yet given them permission to leave. The other cultivators who had come to watch didn't dare to move either, for the same reason. They were all trembling with fear. They were filled with immense regret. If only they had known it would come to this, they wouldn't have come to join in on the excitement!
At that moment, high in the sky, the fierce battle between Mei Ji and the silver-robed elder had reached a fever pitch as they clashed with their Taoist Arts!
The silver-robed elder gritted his teeth, flushed and drenched in sweat, looking as though he couldn't hold on much longer. They were both in the Red Emperor Realm. In fact, he had reached it long before Mei Ji. Yet, due to the disparity in their cultivation techniques, he was no match for her. No matter what methods he employed, they were devoured and absorbed by Mei Ji's Gluttonous Divine Art. She was like the legendary Taotie itself, refusing nothing and devouring whatever came her way.
But in the next moment, the situation changed abruptly.
Just as the silver-robed elder was at the end of his rope, Mei Ji's body suddenly trembled. Her face turned deathly pale, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"A perfect opportunity!"
The silver-robed elder's eyes sharpened instantly. He abandoned the clash of Taoist Arts and lunged forward for close-quarters combat. Although he didn't know why Mei Ji had been suddenly injured, this was undoubtedly a great opportunity to turn defeat into victory!
Once he was close, the silver-robed elder executed a series of exquisite Taoist Arts in a single, fluid sequence, giving Mei Ji no chance to catch her breath.
***
On the ground, Luo Xiu gazed up at the sky, which was still brilliant with light and shuddering with aftershocks, before slowly lowering his eyelids.
Master Ping walked over to his side. "It seems Mei Ji has suffered some kind of internal injury."
As he spoke, he reached out his hand. A Dao Law God Chain shot from his palm, instantly crossing the Void to wrap around Mei Ji and drag her back down to the ground.
"Her condition seems quite serious. Could she have swallowed something she shouldn't have?" Master Ping looked at Mei Ji, who was barely clinging to life and seemed as if she could breathe her last at any moment. He shook his head helplessly. This woman... she'll swallow anything. Look at the mess she's made now.
Luo Xiu raised a hand, channeling a trace of Qihuang Medicine Power into Mei Ji's body. Then, with a faint flash in his left eye, he opened a spatial portal.
"Shan Shan, Snow Kirin, take her inside to the High Priest."
A short while later, after Lin Shanshan and the Snow Kirin had taken Mei Ji into the Land of Lawlessness, the silver-robed elder landed violently on the ground, kicking up a great cloud of dust. His gaze immediately locked onto Luo Xiu, and he stalked toward him, radiating killing intent.
"Boy, it's your turn!"
He had been focused on fighting Mei Ji high in the sky, so he had missed what had happened on the ground. He was completely unaware that Luo Xiu had already sent Huo Tianfeng to his death.
Elder Wei of the Heavenly Moon Cult finally snapped to his senses. Seeing the silver-robed elder about to attack Luo Xiu, his heart skipped a beat, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He scrambled forward to block the man's path.
"Grand Protector, you mustn't go! Why don't we just let matters rest for today?"
The silver-robed elder might not have known how Huo Tianfeng, an expert of the Red Emperor Realm, had been killed, but the disciples of the Heavenly Moon Cult had witnessed it with their own eyes. That scene would be etched in their memories for a lifetime!
The silver-robed elder frowned, clearly displeased. "Elder Wei, what is the meaning of this? Why shouldn't I go?"
Elder Wei's face was a mask of anguish. He glanced furtively at Luo Xiu, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Grand Protector, I can't just stand by and watch you walk into a trap! This youngā¦ this gentleman's strength is formidable, far beyond what we can handle!"
"Hmph! Absurd!" the silver-robed elder snorted coldly and strode toward Luo Xiu. Even Mei Ji was no match for me, so what kind of trouble could her boy toy cause? Are you all trying to provoke me? Just watch as I tear this brat to pieces and display the might of our Heavenly Moon Cult!
At this, the onlooking cultivators all cast pitying glances at the silver-robed elder, as if they could already see his doom.
The disciples of the Heavenly Moon Cult, however, felt their hearts burn with anxiety. Urged on by Elder Wei's frantic eyes, they rushed to block the Grand Protector.
"Please reconsider, Grand Protectorā"
"All of you, get lost!"
The silver-robed elder gave them no chance. With a great wave of his hand, he blasted the disciples aside, then flashed forward until he stood directly in front of Luo Xiu.
"Asura whelp, bow your head and accept death!"
SLAP.
The moment he appeared before Luo Xiu, before he could even make a move, a palm met him as expected, landing squarely on his face.
The field instantly fell silent.
There was no shock on the faces of the crowd, only a sense of inevitability, as if that slap was exactly where it belonged.
Luo Xiu remained expressionless. "Old thing, you should have listened to their advice," he said flatly. "Of course, that's a lesson for your next life."
The silver-robed elder stood stiffly, staring at Luo Xiu in disbelief. "You little beast, you dareā"
SLAP!
Luo Xiu slapped him again with a backhand. He had always preferred action to words.
"This old manā"
SLAP!
"Go to hellā"
SLAP!
After several more slaps, the silver-robed elder finally fell silent.
Luo Xiu watched him calmly. "You know, some people are no different from beasts. Hit them a few times, and they'll listen obediently. Wouldn't you agree, old sir?"
The silver-robed elder said nothing.
"You like to run your mouth, don't you?" Luo Xiu continued. "I'm giving you a chance to speak now. Answer my question."
"Yes! Youngā¦ young master is right."
"I have some questions for you."
"Please, young master, ask away."
But Luo Xiu shook his head. "Never mind, I can't be bothered. You probably wouldn't want to answer anyway."
His hand shot out, and a bolt of lightning erupted from his palm, instantly shattering the silver-robed elder's neck.
After a moment spent plundering the elder's soul, Luo Xiu kicked the corpse over to Elder Wei.
"When you get back, be sure to give your Pope a message. Tell him not to come looking for trouble with me again. Once I'm finished with my business, I will personally pay him a visit and deliver the grand gift of sect annihilation."
***
ćThe Land of Lawlessness.ć
Green Lotus Palace.
Luo Xiu stared at Mei Ji, who was lying on the bed, his expression growing grave. After Lin Shanshan and the Snow Kirin had brought her here, An Ran had attempted to treat her. But even as the Ageless Celestial Emperor, she had been unable to cure Mei Ji, only managing to barely keep her alive.
An Ran spoke first. "The Gluttonous Revered One's cultivation technique is powerful, but it cannot devour and absorb everything."
Luo Xiu asked, "So she's like this because she devoured something indigestible?"
"Her blood is solidifying and hardening," An Ran replied. "That substance has already fused with it."
Luo Xiu frowned. "Is it because she devoured the Soul Devouring Beast's skeleton?"
"The Gluttonous Divine Art is more than capable of devouring a mere Soul Devouring Beast," An Ran said.
Luo Xiu suddenly recalled something, and his gaze darkened. "Could it beā¦ she devoured the War Sword Shard that was left inside the Soul Devouring Beast's skeleton?"
Hearing this, An Ran's eyes narrowed slightly. "That is possible. This High Priest can sense that the substance fused with her blood is a type of metallic material."
Master Ping, who was standing nearby, chimed in, "If it really is a shard of your War Sword, then only you can remove it."
Without another word, Luo Xiu slowly reached his hand toward Mei Ji, calming his mind and trying to use his Sword Intent to call out to the War Sword Shard inside her body.
BOOM!
To his surprise, a Terrifying Sword Qi suddenly erupted from Mei Ji's body, blasting him back several staggering steps.
An Ran's expression grew grim. "Such terrifying Sword Qiā¦ I fear the War Sword Shard has become possessed and has developed a spirit of its own."
At this, Master Ping's eyes widened. Holy hell, if a single shard is this terrifying, what kind of monster would the complete sword be?
Luo Xiu took a deep breath. "I'll try again."
"If we delay any longer, she might truly be beyond saving."