463: Chapter 463 Escape

Above the great desert, yellow sand filled the sky and covered the earth, making a "rustling" sound.

The figure of Daoist Zhenyue was moving rapidly along the sand dunes. He gripped several pale green Talismans in his palm, which emitted a faint spiritual light, completely concealing his aura—this was the reliance that allowed him to escape with his life from the glacial lands on the second level of the Secret Realm.

"Whew..."

Daoist Zhenyue took a deep breath of the dust-filled air, his chest rising and falling slightly.

The Secret Realm had been open for twenty-nine days; at midnight tomorrow, that unstable spatial entrance would completely close. He looked back toward the depths of the Secret Realm, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes: "I wonder how those two are doing."

Just as he was talking to himself, a ripple of spiritual energy suddenly came from more than ten miles ahead, as if someone was fighting.

He was already used to this situation; from the glacial lands to the desert, he had encountered no fewer than ten such incidents. Most of them involved well-known great Sects being hunted by Yao forces.

Daoist Zhenyue had no choice but to crouch beneath the sand dunes and move forward cautiously.

After all, the exit of the Secret Realm was only about a hundred miles ahead. If he took a detour, the loss would outweigh the gain. Moreover, who could guarantee that a detour wouldn't lead to another fight?

As he drew closer, he saw three figures surrounded by a group of Yao led by three Mahayana Stage Great Yao, looking extremely disheveled.

The leading man had a face like polished jade and wore a moon-white brocade robe. He was surrounded by a majestic martial Daoist Fist Intent that had already reached the peak. Beside him, a female cultivator wielding a sword wore plain white martial attire, her long hair tied in a high ponytail.

It was the noble Young Master of the Demon Abyss Pavilion, Wang Guan!

Daoist Zhenyue recognized the identities and backgrounds of these three at a glance.

"You beasts, do you really think my fists are just for show?" Wang Guan roared, his fists clenched tightly, his bones making "cracking" sounds as he forcibly blocked the pounce of a One-Horned Demon Wolf. The wind from his punch swept past, kicking up yellow sand everywhere.

He turned to look at Zhuang Ruoheng and said in a steady tone: "Junior Sister, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Leave with Junior Brother first; I'll hold them off!"

Zhuang Ruoheng shook her head gently, her long sword tracing a sword flower to force back the Yao cultivators in front of her. Her voice was cold: "Three Mahayana Stage beasts, plus a crowd of Yao cultivators helping them—even for you, Senior Brother, it will be difficult to handle."

Hearing this, Wang Guan suddenly chuckled. There wasn't a hint of fear on his face; instead, his Battle Intent rose: "You said it's just difficult to handle, not that I truly can't fight them. Besides, the 'Nine-Transformation Vajra Technique' I Cultivate has already reached the Mahayana Realm. I'm thick-skinned and tough, and I won't go head-to-head with these three beasts. As long as you two leave safely, I can escape and catch up immediately."

He turned to glare at Zhu Lang, his tone becoming heavier: "Old Third, take your Second Senior Sister and go quickly. Don't cause trouble here."

Zhu Lang wanted to say more, but he saw that Zhuang Ruoheng had already taken out a bronze coin and tossed it into the air. The coin spun in the Void Realm, emitting a faint hum. She closed her eyes, formed a hand seal with her fingertips, and began to perform a divination in her heart.

"Second Senior Sister, stop gambling on the outcome there."

Zhu Lang said urgently, "As long as Senior Brother's 'Nine-Transformation Vajra Technique' doesn't encounter that White-Haired Youth, he will certainly be fine. Let's go quickly; don't distract Senior Brother."

Zhuang Ruoheng's eyelids twitched slightly. Looking at the face of the coin as it fell into her palm, her tense shoulders relaxed a bit. She looked up at Wang Guan:

"Eldest Senior Brother, we will wait for you outside the Secret Realm. You must return safely."

With those words, Zhuang Ruoheng no longer hesitated, pulling Zhu Lang as she turned and sped toward the exit of the Secret Realm.

"Want to leave?"

A winged black panther Yao cultivator roared and was about to give chase, but was intercepted by Wang Guan.

Just then, a deafening roar suddenly resounded through heaven and earth. The yellow sand abruptly stopped, and a terrifying pressure descended from the sky.

Wang Guan's expression changed drastically. He looked up and saw a massive, sky-blotting shadow charging fiercely toward them. Daoist Zhenyue, who was sneakily planning to pass through, looked up blankly, his heart filled with despair.

Everyone soon understood what this was...

This punch was like a falling star, carrying the pressure to destroy heaven and earth. Before it even touched the ground, the yellow sand below was crushed into a deep indentation by the invisible wind of the punch. Sand flew like arrows, and an atmosphere of despair instantly enveloped the entire desert.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhuang Ruoheng cried out in shock, her eyes filled with despair.

The next moment, a dazzling white light suddenly erupted from Wang Guan, like a rising sun, instantly sweeping through the entire area. Zhuang Ruoheng and Zhu Lang only felt a blur before their eyes, and the choking smell of wind and sand suddenly dissipated, replaced by the refreshing fragrance of plants and the sound of gurgling water. The scenery of the world had become completely different.

In the desert, where the force of the punch landed, a crater several zhang deep was smashed out, filled with smoke and dust.

A figure slowly rose from the bottom of the crater, dressed like a wealthy old man—a silk robe wrapped around a round, greasy belly. His steps were slightly clumsy, and his face held a bit of a simple, honest look, appearing quite comical.

Had they not witnessed that earth-shattering punch just now, who would have thought that this seemingly clumsy wealthy old man was the Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable!

"Escaped? How is that possible!"

Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable looked down at the empty crater, a trace of bewilderment flashing in his eyes. He then suddenly turned his head toward a white-robed figure that had quietly appeared in the sky: "What trick did you use? How dare you save someone from this Venerable's hands!"

Hearing this, the surrounding Great Yao finally came to their senses and turned their heads together toward the uninvited guest. The Man in White Robes stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering—it was Chen Xuan, who happened to be passing by.

Chen Xuan smiled slightly, his tone calm and indifferent: "Actually, I had no intention of saving anyone. I just wanted to use those three to make a deal, so I had no choice but to act."

Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable grinned, revealing pearly white teeth as the Demonic Qi around him suddenly surged:

"Then do you think that, with just you, you can truly save them?"

The next moment, Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable's figure suddenly moved. His greasy body erupted with a speed completely at odds with his physique. His fists clenched, he once again gathered the power to destroy heaven and earth and smashed it fiercely toward Chen Xuan!

Just as Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable's fist reached within an inch of him, it only struck empty space.

Looking at the empty sky, where there was no longer any trace of a living person's aura, Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable's fist, suspended in mid-air, suddenly clenched tight, and his pupils shrank abruptly:

"Where is he?!"

"To think he escaped from this Venerable twice in a row!"

This Yao Venerable, who dominated the Secret Realm, felt his dignity being trampled upon. The first time, when Wang Guan and the other two were saved amidst the chaos, could be attributed to his own lack of attention. But this time, the opponent was clearly standing right in front of him, yet left calmly before his eyes—this was simply treating him like a monkey!

Violent Demonic Qi instantly swept in all directions, and the surrounding yellow sand was thrown several zhang high:

"You rat who hides your head and shows your tail! If I encounter you again, I will surely grind your bones to ashes!"

The group of Great Yao were all as silent as cicadas in winter; no one dared to respond.