439: I'll be right back!

Inside the volcano.

As Qiong Shuang returned, she saw Yao Delong leisurely standing up.

A wisp of dark red, almost white flame danced like a spirit at his fingertips, emitting a heart-palpitating destructive fluctuation.

"Big Brother! You've come out of seclusion!"

Qiong Shuang exclaimed in surprise, then quickly recounted the experiences of Han Ruyan and the others, as well as the situation with the demonic Cultivators.

"Demonic Cultivators again? Probably from the Heavenly Demon Sect?"

Yao Delong's brow slightly raised, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.

His Physique really did 'attract devils', but... perfect!

After refining this Essence Fire, his previous injuries had mostly recovered. He just needed a target to test his blade on!

And, an injured Soul Transformation demonic Cultivator? It was practically interest delivered to his doorstep!

"Let's go, take a look."

Yao Delong's lips curled into a cold arc, and with a flicker of his figure, he appeared on Qiong Shuang's massive Dragon head.

One person and one Dragon transformed into a streak of light, instantly appearing at the edge of the volcano.

Below, Han Ruyan and the others, who were meditating, suddenly looked up.

When they saw the figure standing atop the ferocious White Flood Dragon's head, clad in a green robe fluttering in the wind, with an aura as profound as the sea, everyone was stunned.

At the edge of the volcano, there was dead silence.

Han Ruyan, Lin Feng, and the other five were like they had been fiercely struck by an invisible giant hammer.

They stood frozen in place, their pupils contracting violently, their minds a blank.

What did they see?

That mysterious Senior, whom they regarded as their last hope, whose aura was as profound as the sea,

stood atop the ferocious White Flood Dragon's head, his green robe fluttering, his face stern... yet the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from him clearly indicated—Middle Golden Core Stage!

"Middle... Middle Golden Core Stage?!"

A female Disciple from Myriad Sword Valley cried out in alarm, her voice trembling with disbelief and breaking with despair.

The terrifying fire Qi fluctuations they felt down the mountain, as grand as the great sun, burning down the eight directions,

were clearly a might only possible in the Spirit Transformation Realm! The result... was actually a young man in the Middle Golden Core Stage?!

Hope, like a punctured bubble, instantly shattered.

The immense disparity caused the already exhausted individuals to tremble violently in their hearts, almost unable to stand steadily.

Lin Feng's face turned ashen, and the last flicker of light in his eyes extinguished.

He gave a tragic smile, his heart filled with sorrow: Is Heaven trying to destroy the Disciples of Myriad Sword Valley?

To place their last hope of survival on a Golden Core Cultivator? How laughable! How lamentable!

Only Han Ruyan, after the initial shock, her ice-blue eyes

quickly regained composure, even flashing with a hint of brilliance.

Middle Golden Core Stage? To be able to make an unruly, high-Bloodline Eighth Order Peak Ice Crystal White Flood Dragon willingly address him as "Big Brother",

and to be able to trigger such heaven-destroying fire Qi fluctuations... this person could absolutely not be merely Middle Golden Core Stage!

She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging Qi and blood and the stinging pain in her Divine Soul,

and respectfully performed a peer's salute to Yao Delong, who stood on the Dragon's head.

Her voice was clear and cold, yet carried a hint of imperceptible inquiry:

"Fellow Daoist, we are Han Ruyan, Disciples of Myriad Sword Valley.

We were pursued by demonic Cultivators to this place and, sensing powerful spiritual energy fluctuations, presumptuously came to seek refuge.

Are the aura fluctuations you are displaying... your true cultivation?

If so, that Soul Transformation demonic Cultivator has already reached the foot of the mountain. To avoid implicating you,

we will desperately hold back that Devil Head later. Please, Fellow Daoist, quickly escape this place!"

Her words were clear and calm, carrying a resolve almost like entrusting a child to another's care before death.

"Junior Sister Han!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng suddenly looked up, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes, which then turned into deeper resolve.

He staggered forward a step, cupped his fists at Yao Delong, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Fellow Daoist! It is our fault for attracting that Devil Head here!

If Fellow Daoist can escape, please be sure to go to Myriad Sword Valley and inform the Sect:

There are two Soul Transformation demonic Cultivators in the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, one named Hun Jiu and one named Hun Ya,

wielding a strange demonic banner that can devour souls, its power comparable to Late Stage Soul Transformation!

Please, the Sect must dispatch experts to eliminate them and avenge us... avenge Junior Martial Uncle Ling Xuzi!"

As he spoke, he unhesitatingly unbuckled the sword on his back, along with the Myriad Sword Valley Core Disciple identity jade token at his waist, and offered them with both hands.

That longsword gleamed with cold light, and the blade flowed with water-like spiritual radiance. It was clearly a mid-grade heavenly artifact Flying Sword!

"This sword is named 'Azure Wave'. Although not an peerless divine weapon, it is my personal possession.

Let it be the remuneration for Fellow Daoist's message! Please, Fellow Daoist, you must agree!"

Lin Feng's eyes were earnest, carrying his final entrustment before facing death.

The other three Disciples also struggled to stand up. Although they didn't speak, their eyes all held the same tragic solemnity and pleading.

They had already regarded Yao Delong as their only hope for relaying a message.

Yao Delong watched this scene, looking at the sword and jade token Lin Feng offered,

and seeing the thick, unyielding despair and resolve in everyone's eyes, his heart stirred slightly.

Myriad Sword Valley... was not entirely made up of arrogant individuals.

This righteousness of entrusting a child in times of danger and sacrificing oneself for others was worth his high regard.

A faint arc curved at the corner of his lips. He did not take the Azure Wave sword,

but merely flicked his sleeve. A gentle yet irresistible force pushed Lin Feng's hand back.

"No matter."

Yao Delong's voice was calm, yet carried a strange penetrative power, instantly suppressing the sorrow in everyone's hearts.

"It is our duty as Cultivators to eliminate devils and defend the Dao. Today, let me meet with that so-called Soul Transformation demonic Cultivator."

"What?!"

At these words, everyone was astonished! Even a hint of surprise flashed in Han Ruyan's ice-blue eyes.

Middle Golden Core Stage... challenging a Soul Transformation demonic Cultivator?

Even if that Devil Head was injured, he was absolutely not something a Golden Core Cultivator could contend with! This was simply a fantasy!

Yao Delong naturally saw their doubts and no longer bothered to hide.

With a slight thought, the Thousand Mechanisms Formless Art within him quietly circulated, and the disguised Middle Golden Core Stage aura receded like a tide.

Boom!

A majestic, powerful, and furnace-hot aura erupted from his body without reservation!

The pressure of Nascent Soul Great Perfection, like a substantial mountain, instantly enveloped this area!

The density of that aura and the profoundness of his Foundation far surpassed any Nascent Soul Cultivator Lin Feng and the others had ever seen!

"Nascent... Nascent Soul Great Perfection?!"

Lin Feng and the others were once again dumbfounded, as if their throats had been choked, too shocked to speak!

This reversal came too quickly! This person could perfectly conceal his cultivation, so much so that even they hadn't noticed at all!

Han Ruyan secretly thought, "As expected!"

But then, the glimmer of hope that had just arisen was replaced by even greater worry.

Nascent Soul Great Perfection... against an injured Early Stage Spirit Transformation demonic Cultivator, and that mysterious and unpredictable soul devouring banner... the chances of victory were still slim!

She hurriedly spoke: "Fellow Daoist! Your aura is profound, and your Foundation is stable, truly an outstanding talent among us!

But that Devil Head is, after all, in the Spirit Transformation Realm, and has the demonic banner's assistance, making it extremely dangerous!

We appreciate Fellow Daoist's intentions, but please prioritize the overall situation and quickly leave to inform the Sect. That would be the best strategy!"

"Yes, Fellow Daoist! While there's life, there's hope!" "Please, Fellow Daoist, think twice!"

The other Disciples also tried to dissuade him, unwilling to see this righteous young prodigy also perish here.

Yao Delong, however, no longer paid attention to their dissuasion. His Divine Thought had long since spread out like an invisible spiderweb,

covering dozens of miles. The Hun Ya, who was sitting with crossed legs at the foot of the mountain, waiting for prey,

its position, state, and even the resentment emanating from its damaged demonic banner, were all clearly reflected in his Sea of Consciousness.

"I'll be right back."

He only left these five words, and his figure transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, shooting down the mountain as if teleporting!

His speed far exceeded the limit of a Nascent Soul Cultivator!