134: Chapter 133 The Ancestor Makes a Move

The Old Ancestor did not pursue.

He merely clenched his fist lightly.

Boom——!

The ghost wall instantly exploded. Countless ghostly shadows let out shrill, miserable screams, transforming into black smoke that dissipated. Gui Sou sprayed out a mouthful of blood, and the runes on his black banner dimmed by more than half. He let out a pained cry, his body staggering, his speed plummeting.

The Old Ancestor raised his hand again, pressing it lightly in Li Tu's direction.

Li Tu felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on his back. He was slammed down from mid-air, crashing into the ground and creating a large crater. With a furious roar, he fiercely swung his bone saber. A blade of Saber Qi, dozens of zhang long, shot skyward, splitting a gap in that invisible pressure. Seizing that gap, he rushed out, scrambling and stumbling as he continued to flee.

The Old Ancestor's eyebrows rose slightly.

These demonic Cultivators had some skill. Li Tu's saber strike had faintly touched the threshold of Golden Core Perfection. Although the Old Ancestor had shattered most of the ghostly shadows on Gui Sou's black banner, the banner itself was undamaged and could still be used. Xue Ji and Ling Lang were extremely fast and had already fled dozens of li away.

But that was all.

The Old Ancestor raised his hand again, making a grasping motion towards the direction of Xue Ji and Ling Lang.

Xue Ji, who was madly fleeing, suddenly felt her body grow heavy, as if grasped by an invisible hand. She let out a sharp scream, her crimson dagger wildly slashing, blood-colored light erupting, yet she could not break free from that force. Ling Lang glanced back, hesitating for a moment—in that very moment, he too was enveloped by that power.

The two were grasped by the invisible hand and flew backward.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Gui Sou looked back and was utterly terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He bit the tip of his tongue, spraying a mouthful of vital blood onto the black banner. The black banner instantly swelled, transforming into a giant banner dozens of zhang high that wrapped around his entire body, turning into a streak of black light that shot skyward.

The Old Ancestor snorted coldly and struck out with a palm.

That black light exploded in mid-air. Gui Sou fell out from within it with a miserable scream, covered in blood, his black banner shattered into strips of cloth. Yet, he actually didn't die. Using the explosive impact, he flew another great distance forward and disappeared into the distant mountain forest.

Li Tu had also escaped. He used his bone saber to forcefully cleave through the Old Ancestor's blockade. Although the shock caused blood to flow from his seven orifices, he still managed to flee. Only Xue Ji and Ling Lang were captured by the Old Ancestor and brought back, thrown onto the ground atop the main peak, unable to move.

The Old Ancestor looked down at the two, his expression calm.

"With just this level of skill, you dare to attack my Qingxuan Sect?"

Xue Ji lay sprawled on the ground, trembling all over, unable to speak. Ling Lang closed his eyes, not uttering a word.

The Old Ancestor did not ask further. He raised his hand and made a grasping motion. The storage Magic Treasures of the two—the blood jade bracelet on Xue Ji's wrist and the bronze bell at Ling Lang's waist—flew into his hand. He then pointed a finger. The Golden Cores of the two shattered simultaneously, their cultivation completely destroyed.

Xue Ji let out a miserable scream and fainted. Ling Lang's body shuddered, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He still kept his eyes closed and did not make a sound.

The Old Ancestor erased the Divine Sense imprints on the blood jade bracelet and the bronze bell, then turned to look at the injured Golden Core True Persons behind him.

"Fu Qingyun."

Fu Qingyun stepped forward. The black Qi on his left arm had already spread to his shoulder, and his entire arm had lost all sensation. He gritted his teeth, his face pale.

The Old Ancestor handed the blood jade bracelet to him: "Take it. The things inside can help you expel the poison."

Fu Qingyun accepted it, saying softly, "Thank you, Old Ancestor."

The Old Ancestor then looked at Zhou Yuan and Han Song. Zhou Yuan's bronze bell had a crack, and Han Song's iron ruler had a curled edge. Both were injured, but not seriously. The Old Ancestor handed the bronze bell to Zhou Yuan: "This is for you. Divide the things inside among yourselves."

Zhou Yuan accepted it, and together with Han Song, they expressed their thanks.

The Old Ancestor swept his gaze over the others—the injured Golden Core True Persons, the sacrificed Disciples, those still maintaining the array. He fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Today's matter was my oversight."

Everyone was stunned.

The Old Ancestor waved his hand, not elaborating further: "Gather the remains of the fallen Disciples and bury them properly. Those who are injured, go to the Alchemy Hall to collect medicine. The Mountain Guardian Array is to continue being maintained; do not deactivate it."

He paused, then added: "Although these vanguard forces have fled, there is still a real major battle to come. All of you, go and prepare."

Everyone acknowledged the order and dispersed.

Fu Qingyun was supported by Liu Ruyan to receive treatment. Zhou Yuan and Han Song went to arrange for the remains of the fallen Disciples. The other Golden Core True Persons attended to their respective duties. Atop the main peak, only the Old Ancestor, the unconscious Jiang Yueling, and Yun Ming standing silently to the side remained.

The Old Ancestor turned and looked at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming was leaning against a tree, panting heavily. He was tattered all over, the moonlight flowing frost robe visible beneath, with a few bloody scratches on his face. That frantic run earlier had almost drained every ounce of his strength.

The Old Ancestor looked at him for a few moments, then suddenly asked: "How did you catch up to her?"

Yun Ming gasped for breath, replying weakly: "She burned her vital blood to escape. Her speed wasn't slow, but her Qi was extremely chaotic. I just followed the trail and caught up."

"What about the three at the Late Golden Core Stage?"

"Avoided them." Yun Ming paused.

The Old Ancestor nodded and asked no more.

He looked down at Jiang Yueling on the ground. This girl was unconscious, her face frighteningly pale, the fist mark on her cheek clearly visible. Her protective robe had several holes, her hairpin was crookedly stuck in her hair, and she had lost one of her shoes.

The Old Ancestor sighed.

"This girl is quite stubborn."

He raised his hand. A gentle spiritual power enveloped Jiang Yueling, lifting her up and placing her on a nearby bluestone slab. Then, he took a Medicinal Pill from his sleeve and placed it in her mouth.

Watching this scene, Yun Ming suddenly asked: "Old Ancestor, that message she mentioned..."

"In three days, the Shenduan Sect will receive the news," the Old Ancestor said calmly. "As for whether they come or not, when they come—that is their business."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment: "And us? We wait?"

The Old Ancestor glanced at him: "Otherwise? You, at the Early Golden Core Stage, will fight a Soul Transformation Cultivator?"

Yun Ming shut his mouth.

The Old Ancestor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. That sky had already returned to calm, but everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm. A few vanguard demonic Cultivators had fled, but the real major battle was yet to come. The Soul Transformation Cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Hall, four at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, tens of thousands of demonic Cultivators—these were the real enemies.

And the Qingxuan Sect had only him, a single Nascent Soul.

The Old Ancestor withdrew his gaze and looked at Yun Ming: "Take her back to rest. When she wakes up, tell her to stay honestly within the Sect. She is not to go anywhere."

Yun Ming nodded, walked over, and picked up Jiang Yueling.

This girl was light, not much weight at all. Her eyes were closed, her breathing faint. The fist mark on her face looked especially glaring in her unconscious state.

Yun Ming, holding her, was about to leave when the Old Ancestor suddenly called out to him again.

"Yun Ming."

"Hmm?"

The Old Ancestor looked at him, remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "You did well today."

Yun Ming was momentarily stunned, before he could react, the Old Ancestor had already turned and walked towards his Immortal Cave.

Yun Ming stood in place, watching that aged back, a sudden indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

He lowered his head, glanced at the unconscious Jiang Yueling in his arms, sighed, and walked down the mountain.

Behind him, the main peak regained its tranquility. In the distance, the Mountain Guardian Array continued to operate slowly, enveloping the entire Qingxuan Sect. The last vestiges of twilight faded from the horizon, and night descended.

The storm was about to arrive.