This new sect... could it really be this powerful?
To be able to handle a Nascent Soul cultivator who had taken over the entire Shangyang Sect so easily? They had actually managed to subdue him so quickly—could it be that if they went up to finish the job...
Was the Nascent Soul of that cultivator frozen as well?
As if to answer his thoughts, a series of loud "crack" sounds echoed in the air, and the next moment, the massive ice dragon suspended midair shattered into countless shards!
The ice shards flew in all directions, piercing through the space outside the protective formation, turning the surrounding area into a field of sharp ice spikes.
Inside, Wei Hai was now almost completely naked, his body covered in deep, bloody gashes, exposing bone in several places, drenched in fresh blood.
"Who's the coward shooting arrows from the shadows? Get out here and face me!!!" Wei Hai roared in fury. The thought that if he hadn't burned some of his Nascent Soul power just now, his body and Nascent Soul might have been completely frozen filled him with rage.
Who would have thought that in this remote, backwater sect, barely clinging to survival in some hidden mountain valley, he would nearly stumble so badly!
This was a humiliation beyond belief!
Just as his voice faded, an even larger bolt of lightning struck him squarely from the sky.
These intermittent lightning strikes, for the already heavily injured Wei Hai, were simply adding insult to injury. His anger flared even more intensely.
The curses that spilled from his mouth became even more vicious.
Down below, Liao Pantou, struggling to suppress his intense urge to curse back, rushed to meet Mo Que, who was running toward him. He took the unconscious Mo Yuanjiao and Mo General from Mo Que and hurriedly began to retreat with him.
While running, Liao Pantou cursed the Nascent Soul cultivator in the sky a thousand times over in his heart.
Who was he calling a coward? Who was he calling a coward?!
If Liao Pantou hadn't been in such a rush to save people, he would have given that scumbag a piece of his mind, and if he had his full soul, he would've gone up there and torn off that scumbag's third leg and used it as a stick!
Spotting an extra figure among the fleeing group below, Wei Hai pointed at him in anger and shouted, "It was you, wasn't it, you little coward? Just wait until I get my hands on you!"
With that, he raised his hand, preparing to bombard the protective formation over Shuxi Village again.
Knowing that if this formation broke and they hadn't reached the Heart-Testing Path in time, they would all be done for, Liao Pantou had no time for any more mental cursing. He put his head down and ran as fast as he could.
Behind him, Sun Yigao, seeing that his master had brought everyone back, hurried over to help Mo Que, who was struggling to keep up, and chased after Liao Pantou with all his might.
Above them, the protective formation shook with each successive attack, the booming sounds echoing endlessly.
Below, the group ran with all their strength, desperate to escape.
Mo Yuanjiao, who had been semi-conscious, slowly awoke within the protection of Liao Pantou's soul. He recognized the familiar face of Liao Pantou, with his yin-yang face, and, turning his head, he saw his father, also half-supported by Liao Pantou. Though his father remained unconscious, Mo Yuanjiao could feel his breathing.
With a hoarse voice, he managed to speak, "Senior Liao, thank y—"
"Shut up and save your strength!" Liao Pantou interrupted sharply, still running at full speed.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of clashing with Wei Hai's assaults, they reached the edge of the village.
They were just a thousand meters away from the Heart-Testing Path!
At that moment, they heard a loud "boom" overhead. Then, Liao Pantou shouted, "Dodge now—!"
In the next instant, a massive vortex of scorching air surged toward them, enveloping them in an overwhelming force.
Even though they all reacted instantly, diving to the side, they were still caught in the powerful blast wave and thrown into the air.
As Liao Pantou was at the center of the blast, he bore the brunt of the attack. Fortunately, the protective formation had absorbed much of the impact before shattering, or his soul might have been completely dissipated.
However, the immense force still caused him to lose his grip on Mo Yuanjiao and Mo General, and they were both flung far away.
Sun Yigao and Mo Que were also caught in the blast, crashing heavily to the ground.
Above them, Wei Hai laughed wildly and began to dive toward them, shouting, "Prepare to die, you insignificant ants!"
But just as he was about to strike, a flash of pink light shot out from the mountainside and struck him with such force that he was sent flying backward.
Although the blow wasn't particularly heavy, Wei Hai quickly regained his composure mid-air, frantically scanning the area with his spiritual sense.
But he found nothing.
Then, he noticed that the ground beneath the injured group below suddenly glowed with a pink light, enveloping them entirely.
In an instant, the pink glow whisked them away toward the mountainside with a speed almost too fast to see.
Watching the pink light snatch the group right from under his nose, Wei Hai was furious.
"Is your sect only capable of hiding and running? Come out and face me like a man!"
His voice echoed through the mountains, but no one responded.
Only the thunder above him answered, crashing down with yet another fierce strike.
This time, the lightning was much stronger than before.
Wei Hai's hair, eyelashes, and all his body hair had been completely burned off.
His clothes were gone too, and his flesh was charred, emitting a scorched odor.
"*******!!!"
Turning toward the Lingxian Sect, he let loose a torrent of curses, saying things he'd never said before in his life. Then he noticed that the swirling storm clouds above the mountainside had suddenly dispersed.
In their place, a brilliant rainbow-colored light arched across the now-clear sky.
At the entrance to Lingxian Sect, the pink glow that had enveloped Liao Pantou and the others gently set them down before retreating back into the ancient peach blossom tree.
Those who had stayed behind were astonished.
Their sect's peach tree could actually save people!
It was amazing!
But there were more surprises to come.
The ancient peach tree began to sway slightly, and a layer of pollen drifted down from the blossoms that had never wilted.
The pollen settled on the injured Mo Yuanjiao and the others, and soon, they began to wake from their unconscious state.