124: Chapter 123 Running into the line of fire

Yun Ming turned a deaf ear, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Inside his Dantian, five Golden Cores revolved at full power, and a boundless stream of Spiritual Qi poured into the flying boat. A journey that should have taken two or three days was forcibly completed by him in just one hour.

When the flying boat finally came to a stop, Jiang Yueling rushed out in a huff.

Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, and her veil had even slipped to one side. As soon as she came out, she pointed at Yun Ming's nose, just about to start scolding—

—but then she froze.

Yun Ming stood at the edge of the flying boat, his gaze directed forward, his expression frighteningly serious.

That kind of seriousness was completely different from before.

It was as if he were a different person.

Jiang Yueling subconsciously followed his gaze—

Ten people were floating in the sky.

Ten in the Late Golden Core Stage.

They just hung there in mid-air, looking down from above at this flying boat that had suddenly intruded. Devilish Qi surged, and their Aura was overwhelming. The ten of them spread out in a fan shape, faintly blocking all paths of retreat.

Those ten people were also somewhat surprised.

They had sensed a flying boat speeding toward them from a distance and thought it was some reckless Righteous Path Cultivator stumbling upon them. However, once the flying boat reached them and they scanned it with their Divine Sense—two in the Early Golden Core Stage.

That's it?

The leader sneered, realizing he had been startled for nothing.

Yun Ming's pupils constricted, his mind racing.

Ten in the Late Golden Core Stage against the two of them in the Early Golden Core Stage. If they met force with force, there would be no chance of survival.

Yet he remained calm on the surface, even forcing a smile as he cupped his hands. "My apologies, my apologies. This Junior didn't know the Seniors were cultivating here; I'm sorry for the intrusion. Just passing through, purely passing through."

As he spoke, he signaled to Jiang Yueling with his eyes.

This time, Jiang Yueling didn't act out; she understood the meaning of that look—hide back inside.

She quietly backed away and moved into the cabin.

While Yun Ming spoke polite words, he was secretly and frantically driving his five Golden Cores. Spiritual Qi flooded into the flying boat's Formation Plate like a tide, waiting for a single opportunity to immediately turn around and flee.

"Since you're just passing through," the leading demonic Cultivator spoke slowly, "then—"

Yun Ming suddenly looked up at the sky and shouted, "True Lord, save me!"

The voice was so loud that it made the mountain forests tremble three times.

The ten people were startled at the same time and subconsciously looked up at the sky, their Divine Sense frantically scanning the surroundings—True Lord? A Nascent Soul True Lord had come?

Taking advantage of that moment of distraction, Yun Ming suddenly pushed the flying boat!

The entire flying boat became like a streak of light, instantly reversing direction and shooting back the way it came!

"Shit! We've been tricked!"

"Chase them!"

Ten figures simultaneously erupted into motion, chasing after the flying boat.

Yun Ming pushed the flying boat to its limit, his five Golden Cores revolving at full power as Spiritual Qi flooded in like it cost nothing. The speed of the flying boat was astonishingly fast, leaving the pursuers a good distance behind in the blink of an eye.

Almost there.

Almost.

Just a bit faster—

Swish—!

A sharp sound of something piercing the air came from behind!

Yun Ming's pupils constricted as he suddenly maneuvered the flying boat into a roll. A cold light grazed past his cheek, taking a strand of hair with it. It was a flying shuttle, and its speed was incredibly fast!

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the flying shuttle actually drew an arc in the air, turned around, and flew back!

This strike was unavoidable.

Boom!

The flying shuttle slammed hard into the rear of the flying boat. The entire vessel shook violently, and its speed suddenly slowed down.

Yun Ming's heart sank.

This is bad.

A figure caught up like a ghost, blocking the front of the flying boat in the blink of an eye.

It was a Gaunt Old Man in black robes with a sinister face. He was grinning, revealing a mouthful of uneven yellow teeth.

"Running?" He gave a strange, cackling laugh. "When it comes to speed, there aren't many people this old man has ever lost to."

He raised his hand and grabbed; the flying shuttle flew back into his hand, spinning rapidly in his palm.

Yun Ming's expression was grim.

Behind them, the other nine figures were also rapidly approaching.

Just then, a figure rushed out from beside him.

Jiang Yueling!

She rushed out of the cabin and suspended herself in mid-air, treasure light flowing around her as her Aura surged. That cracked hairpin was back on her head; though the cracks remained, it was barely usable. Her newly changed Dharma robe shimmered with light, several more bracelets had appeared on her wrists, and the anklets on her ankles jingled.

She stood right there before the demonic Cultivator in the Late Golden Core Stage, her head held high, speaking with her usual arrogant tone:

"Personal Disciple of True Lord Qingyue of the Shenduan Sect, Jiang Yueling. A mere Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator dares to block this lady's path?"

The Gaunt Old Man froze for a moment.

Then, the smile on his face grew even wider.

"Shenduan Sect? True Lord Qingyue's Disciple?" He looked Jiang Yueling up and down, his eyes filled with greed. "What a coincidence, what a coincidence."

He licked his lips, his voice raspy and excited. "The higher-ups gave orders that for any Shenduan Sect Disciples coming to the Ximing Continent this time—especially that one named Jiang Yueling—capture them if possible, or kill them if not. Who would have thought, who would have thought, that you'd actually deliver yourself right to my door."

Jiang Yueling's face changed.

The target of these demonic Cultivators had been her from the very beginning.

"Heaven is on my side!" The Gaunt Old Man laughed loudly and reached out his hand to grab her!

Jiang Yueling grit her teeth and, instead of retreating, she advanced.

The bracelets on her wrists lit up simultaneously, and layers of light shields protected her within. Her anklets jingled softly, and her figure instantly vanished from the spot. The hairpin transformed into a golden streak of light, stabbing directly at the old man's face!

The old man snorted coldly and swatted his hand, sending the hairpin flying back. With his other hand, he made a grasping motion; an invisible giant hand appeared out of thin air and squeezed the light shields around Jiang Yueling.

Crack—

The light shields shattered.

Jiang Yueling's face turned pale, and she retreated rapidly.

But the old man was faster, catching up to her in the blink of an eye and striking down with a palm!

Yun Ming frowned as he watched from the flying boat.

This girl, really...

She clearly could have run, yet she insisted on fighting.

Fine, fight then, but she even identified herself. Now look what happened; they were already after her in the first place.

He looked up into the distance—those nine demonic Cultivators were about to catch up. Once they arrived, ten Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators ganging up on them would mean both he and Jiang Yueling would be finished.

But the problem was, he couldn't just ignore it.

If something happened to this young miss, would True Lord Qingyue let him off? Would the Old Ancestor let him off?

Yun Ming took a deep breath and erupted from the flying boat.

Purple Heaven Divine Thunder!

A thick bolt of thunder descended from the sky, striking directly at the Gaunt Old Man!

The old man frowned and dodged. The thunderbolt slammed into the spot where he had been standing, blasting a large crater.

"Oh?" He looked at Yun Ming, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "You've got some skill."

Yun Ming landed beside Jiang Yueling and grabbed her wrist.

"Stop fighting," he whispered. "Run."

Jiang Yueling shook off his hand. "Run for what! I couldn't beat him alone, but can't we beat him together? He's just in the Late Golden Core Stage, not a Nascent Soul!"

Yun Ming wished he could just knock her unconscious with a slap.

He took a deep breath and pointed at the nine figures getting closer in the distance. "Do you see clearly? There are nine more over there."

Jiang Yueling's face finally changed.

She opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.

The Gaunt Old Man was no longer in a hurry to act. He hovered in mid-air with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at the two of them like prey in a cage.

"Run," he said slowly. "Why aren't you running? This old man wants to see just where you can run to."

Yun Ming's mind raced.

Fighting head-on was definitely out.

Running was also impossible. This old fogey's flying shuttle was too fast, and the nine behind him were almost there.

The only way was—

He glanced at Jiang Yueling.

"In a moment, I'll hold him back," he whispered. "You run toward the Qingxuan Sect. Don't look back, don't stop, use your fastest speed."

Jiang Yueling was stunned. "Are you crazy? How can you hold him back alone?"

"It's none of your business."

"I..."

"Shut up." Yun Ming interrupted her. "If you get captured, it'll be even more trouble for me. Run back and get the Old Ancestor."

Jiang Yueling looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

But the Gaunt Old Man moved at that moment.

"Stop discussing," he pounced with a grin. "Both of you, stay!"

Yun Ming took a step forward and met him.