Ren Yuanhao's heart was in a panic. While his situation seemed perilous, in reality, he hadn't helped at all, merely wasting precious time. Worse, he might have even plunged the three women into an abyss of no return!
However, upon second thought, at least he had managed to make this immensely influential combatant a 'companion' and successfully rescued Dongfang Xu. In this regard, he couldn't entirely claim to be meaningless.
"Senior, do you know how to get out of here?"
Fang Moyu handed his wine gourd to Ren Yuanhao, "Drink some wine to calm your nerves. I'm very familiar with this place. Stick close to me and don't fall behind."
As soon as the old man finished speaking, he suddenly broke into a sprint, seemingly still displeased about losing the climbing contest to Ren Yuanhao earlier and wanting to seize the opportunity to regain some face.
Ren Yuanhao naturally understood the value of time. He immediately unleashed his true qi, stirring up two torrents of wind within the passage. Before long, both of them charged out of the Blackwater Prison almost simultaneously.
At that moment, mist began to descend upon the mountaintop, making the Linxian Tower, hidden within the fog, appear even more desolate and lonely.
And that woman, in order to save you, was willing to pay the price of spending the rest of her life in solitude by a cold lamp.
This woman is now tied to a wooden pillar, awaiting the kiss of death~
For some reason, after being reborn from calamity, whenever Ren Yuanhao saw the moss-covered stone steps leading to Linxian Tower, strange echoes would ring in his mind.
And whenever he thought of these, his mind felt as if it were being gnawed by a million ants, and a desire to destroy Linxian Tower, a symbol of supreme honor, ignited like dry tinder meeting a raging fire!
"Ren Yuanhao, what are you doing?"
Dongfang Xu had intended to thank Ren Yuanhao at least once she saw him, but she never expected that this man, upon emerging from the Blackwater Prison, wouldn't even spare her a proper glance.
She grabbed Ren Yuanhao, who seemed entranced, but was instead stunned by the look he gave her as he turned his head.
His pupils were filled with fury and death, his aura completely different from the previous night.
He looked like a vengeful spirit crawled from the depths of hell, about to bring the flames of annihilation to the mortal world!
"Kid, this is the way down to save people. That way leads to Linxian Tower. You haven't been scared silly, have you?"
Fang Moyu also placed his withered hand on Ren Yuanhao's shoulder, seemingly sensing his strangeness.
"Don't stop me, I want to destroy that place!" Ren Yuanhao's water and fire true qi erupted from his body. If Fang Moyu hadn't suppressed him with his refined and powerful true qi, he would have likely gone berserk.
Fang Moyu roared, "That's just a more terrible prison, and the people are no longer there. Do you want the people now, or do you want to vent your anger?"
Ren Yuanhao continued to frantically circulate his true qi uncontrollably, his eyes spewing boundless rage. His long saber seemed to sense his master's will, whistling incessantly.
"Fine, you brat. If we delay any longer, we'll only be collecting your friend's corpse!"
Even with Fang Moyu's immense true qi suppressing Ren Yuanhao's two streams, he was already straining. He was astonished that at such a young age, Ren Yuanhao could control two completely opposing streams of true qi. However, he knew that if these two diametrically opposed inner forces continued to collide within his body, it would inevitably cause him great harm, with the damage deepening over time.
Yet, he knew clearly that this was not the time for lecturing; the important thing was to rein in this 'stubborn mule.'
Just as Fang Moyu was feeling the strain, he suddenly felt the aura from Ren Yuanhao completely dissipate, and the light in his eyes dimmed.
It seemed his words had doused Ren Yuanhao with a bucket of cold water.
"Senior, you're right. I should go save them immediately. Iā"
Ren Yuanhao was somewhat wary of his own strange state just now, as if something within him were constantly agitating his emotions, making him completely lose control!
And this feeling, he seemed to have experienced it at some time, in some place!
"Let's go, kid. You need to learn to control your emotions, otherwise, once the two completely opposite qi clash, you'll be not far from death. Let's go!"
Fang Moyu leaped up and, along with Dongfang Xu, disappeared into the mist-shrouded mountaintop.
"Linxian Tower~"
Ren Yuanhao glanced at the steps veiled by the thin mist and, following the two, also broke into a sprint.
...
At this moment, at the altar, the battle was drawing to a close.
Dongfang Ji could initially contend with the Sect Master Zhenren, but as time went on, she found herself increasingly strained.
Clearly, having only recently entered the Foundation Establishment realm, her true qi was far from comparable to the Sect Master's in terms of refinement and density. After more than a hundred exchanges, she was already in a defensive and passive state.
The four teams of ability users and elites from various races, who had surrounded them, were also locked in fierce combat with the Twelve Guards of the Chixiao Sect.
Dust billowed in all directions, and cries of agony echoed. The flames from the four pillars of fire danced with the wind, outlining the figures of everyone like dancing demons. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, with faint flashes of lightning. The tall buildings built along the mountainside stood like dumbfounded spectators, watching the mortal combat between the two sides without expression, as if the outcome had nothing to do with them.
The deathmatch continued, and it seemed it was about to end with Dongfang Ji's defeat.
"Old hag, you say you wouldn't enjoy your peaceful life, but you insisted on colluding with that brat to kill my eldest disciple. Is your Dongfang clan prepared to stagnate and only stop when the rising powers overthrow you?"
The Sect Master Zhenren seemed to show no trace of regret for losing a disciple. He then struck Dongfang Ji's left shoulder with a backhand palm. Dongfang Ji had already taken three or four blows, and her body felt as if it were about to fall apart. The only reason she clung on was to rescue her granddaughter, Dongfang Xu.
She staggered back several steps, as if gathering her true qi was burning her life force. "A cultivation sect, instead of seeking enlightenment and ascension, is infatuated with the mundane world. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed when you speak of it!"
"Ridiculous? Being mediocre will also draw ridicule! You've reached the Foundation Establishment realm, yet you don't understand the laws of the world!"
The Sect Master Zhenren was about to channel his immense true qi into his throat, intending to finish Dongfang Ji with the 'Thunderous Roar' sonic secret technique, when unexpectedly, the four pillars of fire around them suddenly merged into a giant dragon, roaring towards him!
"A meager trick."
He flicked his sleeve and rotated it clockwise three or four times. His sleeve immediately emitted a dull, wind-breaking sound. The flames, as thick as a man's embrace, seemed to be completely swallowed by his sleeve. The fire controller, missing its target, suddenly flashed forward. The 'Electric Sword' moved with a speed that was half a beat slower than Leng Wuhuan's 'Flash Step' ability, but this speed was still enough to stab his long sword into the chest of the Sect Master Zhenren, who was busy neutralizing the 'Fire Controller's' ability!
The fact that these ability users could break free from the control of the Twelve Guards meant that his Twelve Guards were already a thing of the past. Yet, he showed no panic. He immediately channeled true qi to his feet, about to retreat, when he felt a chilling sensation in his mind. An action that should have been instantaneous seemed to unfold like a film played at eight times slower speed, rendering him utterly incapable of dodging at this critical juncture.
"It's the Dongfang family head's superpower ability, 'Instantaneous'!"