167: Crisis resolved

Seeing Xin Yuelan fly back, Xue Li's withered face instantly surged with wild joy and ferocity.

Devilish Qi churned around his body, and the black light of the Soul-Devouring Banner in his hand flared brightly, clearly preparing to strike immediately to keep them there!

However, before Xin Yuelan had even landed, her cold, majestic, and unquestionable voice already resounded throughout the entire field: "Elder Xue Li! Put away the Formation, retreat immediately! The experts of the Yin Yang Sect will arrive in an instant; if we don't leave now, none of us will be able to leave!"

The wild joy on Xue Li's face instantly froze, as if he had been doused with a basin of cold water.

He looked up abruptly, his scarlet gaze staring fixedly at Xin Yuelan, as if wanting to see something on her face.

But Xin Yuelan's red eyes were cold, carrying the pressure of the Saintess, and she met his gaze without flinching.

Xue Li was both shocked and angry, his thoughts turning rapidly: "Why does the Saintess want to retreat? Could it be that she reached some agreement with that brat? Or is it that... she sensed the strength of the Yin Yang Sect reinforcements, far exceeding our own side?"

The communication talisman he crushed had indeed brought reinforcements, but the Yin Yang Sect side...

Just at the moment he hesitated, the aura of those few brilliant sword lights in the distance that were tearing through the Devilish Qi suddenly surged!

A terrifying pressure, vast as the sea and carrying an awe-inspiring heavenly might, crashed into the entire valley like an invisible giant wave!

The aura of one of the sword lights had astonishingly reached the Nascent Soul Great Perfection!

Xue Li's face turned deathly pale in an instant! Nascent Soul Great Perfection!

This was definitely not something their few groups of people could contend with!

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Xue Li dared not hesitate a moment longer, emitting a shrill, piercing scream.

The Soul-Devouring Banner in his hand rolled fiercely, protecting Xin Yuelan, Xue Jiu, and the others, while he roared at the remaining Devil Cultivators below: "Withdraw the Formation! Go!"

Hum!

The Nine Nether Origin Locking Grand Array covering the valley instantly dimmed and dissipated.

The remaining Devil Cultivators felt like they had been granted amnesty, turning into streaks of black light one after another.

Following closely behind the black light of the Soul-Devouring Banner that wrapped around the others, they fled like stray dogs, escaping in the opposite direction of the Yin Yang Sect reinforcements and hastily disappearing into the thick Devilish Qi in the blink of an eye.

In the valley, only Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Liu Tiezhu remained.

The six-armed Asura Puppet was put away into the storage ring by Yao Delong.

"Phew..."

Liu Tiezhu let out a long breath, leaning his massive mountain-splitting axe on the ground, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"They finally left! Great Master Yao, you are truly a master of brilliant schemes!"

The afterimages of the Devil Sect members fleeing hastily into the miasma had not yet completely dissipated when several sword lights, brilliant as the sun and carrying majestic pressure, crashed down from above the valley!

The sword lights retracted, revealing over a dozen figures.

The person in the lead wore the dark black and gold-patterned battle robe unique to the Yin Yang Sect's Protector Hall.

His face was square, and he possessed a natural dignity; as his eyes opened and closed, sharp light flickered like electricity.

He was none other than the Hall Master of the Protector Hall, a Nascent Soul Great Perfection Cultivator—Liu Tianzheng!

Behind him followed three Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators with deep auras, also wearing Elder robes.

Further back were over a dozen elite Disciple members of the Protector team, all wearing uniform Protector robes, with stern expressions and cultivation levels all at the Golden Core Stage.

The powerful pressure descended like a tangible force, instantly sweeping away the remaining Devilish Qi and chaotic energy from the fierce battle in the valley, leaving only the pure, magnificent righteousness belonging to the Yin Yang Sect!

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue immediately stepped forward and bowed: "Disciple Yao Delong (Lin Qingxue) greets Hall Master Liu and all the Elders!"

Liu Tianzheng's gaze was like a torch, instantly sweeping across the entire scene.

The valley was a mess, the ground crisscrossed with gullies, and traces of intense energy impact remained, clearly indicating a fierce battle had taken place.

His gaze fell upon Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue, seeing that although their auras were slightly fluctuating and Yao Delong's clothes were slightly damaged, they were in high spirits and had no major injuries.

A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes.

Especially when he perceived the Late Golden Core Stage aura on Yao Delong, which was unusually condensed and vigorous, as well as Lin Qingxue's cultivation level, which had already reached Golden Core Great Perfection with icy coldness contained within, this surprise deepened.

"Hmm."

Liu Tianzheng nodded slightly, his voice steady like the clashing of gold and iron.

"Where are the Devil Cultivators?"

His sharp gaze scanned the churning Devilish Qi all around, and his powerful Divine Sense spread out like an invisible giant net, but he only captured a few faint traces of Devilish Qi that were quickly fleeing into the distance.

He did not mention the Saintess or the Puppet.

Clearly, in the emergency communication received, Lin Qingxue had only stated that they had encountered an ambush by a Devil Sect Nascent Soul Elder and the situation was critical, without detailing the specifics.

Yao Delong immediately stepped forward, his expression respectful, his tone carrying a hint of perfectly timed "relief" and "lingering fear": "Reporting to Hall Master Liu! That group of Devil Cultivators was extremely cunning. The leader had Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivation and set up a Grand Array to trap and kill us! Fortunately, this Senior Liu Tiezhu helped us out of righteousness, allowing us to hold on for a moment! Just now, the Devil Head seemed to sense the magnificent heavenly might of the Hall Master and the Elders approaching, so he disregarded everything and hastily withdrew the Formation to flee!"

In his words, he pushed most of the credit to Liu Tiezhu and attributed the retreat of the Devil Cultivators to the deterrence of Liu Tianzheng and the others, never mentioning his own Breakthrough during the battle, his fight against three Golden Core Cultivators, or that shocking Asura Puppet.

Liu Tianzheng's gaze then turned to Liu Tiezhu, who was standing to the side with a burly figure and an aura as steady as a mountain.

As the Hall Master of the Protector Hall, he held a high position and power, and he had never cared much for the likes of Loose Cultivators, but since the other party had helped the Sect's Core Disciple, the necessary pleasantries still had to be observed.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Liu."

Liu Tianzheng cupped his hands slightly, his tone flat yet carrying the dignity of a superior, "The Yin Yang Sect will remember this favor of your assistance."

Liu Tiezhu hurriedly cupped his hands in return, lowering his posture significantly: "Hall Master Liu is too kind! Great Master Yao has a kindness to me, so I naturally did my best! Now that the Devil Cultivators have retreated and the Hall Master and the Elders have arrived in person, I can rest easy. I shall take my leave now!"

He knew the chasm between Sects and Loose Cultivators well and did not wish to stay longer, casting a grateful look toward Yao Delong.

Yao Delong also cupped his hands and said: "Take care on your journey, Senior Liu, we shall meet again!"

Liu Tiezhu said no more.

He shouldered his massive mountain-splitting axe, cupped his hands to the group, and then transformed into a heavy, earthy-yellow Escape Light, speeding away in the direction of White Cloud City.

Watching Liu Tiezhu leave, Liu Tianzheng's gaze fell back onto Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue.

His eyes held a trace of scrutiny and imperceptible approval: "You two are not bad. You remained calm in the face of danger, being able to hold out under a Nascent Soul Devil Head until reinforcements arrived. What is even more rare is that your cultivation has improved rapidly."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Yao Delong for a moment, and said with implied meaning: "The Inner Sect Disciple ranking assessment is imminent. Cultivate well and do not disappoint the Sect's expectations."

"The Disciples will keep the Hall Master's teachings in mind!"

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue replied in unison.

"Hmm."

Liu Tianzheng said no more.

He turned to the three Nascent Soul Elders and the Protector team Disciples behind him and ordered: "Elder Wang, Elder Li, Elder Zhao, the three of you each take a team. Using this valley as the center, search carefully for traces of the Devil Cultivators within a hundred miles. If you find anything, send a message immediately; do not pursue them without authorization!"