Xie Yucai, however, roared, "Don't think I'm truly afraid of you. I've been letting you have your way. With your pathetic skills, who can you even defeat? You can't even beat me. If you don't believe me, try attacking me. I'll beat you so badly your own mother won't recognize you."
"You..." Xie Yuchan was finally stunned into silence, unable to speak as she looked at Xie Yucai.
Xie Yucai seized the opportunity and pulled Xie Yuchan away.
The city's residents also began to flee, trampling each other in a chaotic stampede. Da Feng Novel Network.
The most terrified and disheartened at this moment was Xue Renkui. He watched the barrier, which was on the verge of collapse, as if the sky itself was about to fall, and his spirit was utterly broken.
At this juncture, the tide had turned. Lexi City, and indeed the entire Zhenghe Sect, were about to be consumed by flames, vanishing into dust.
In this moment, he truly felt his own clumsiness and insignificance. Facing such a cataclysmic disaster, a collapse of mountains and a breach of dams, he was merely flesh and blood, utterly powerless.
Unless a celestial deity descended, escape from this calamity today seemed impossible.
Just then, two streaks of light rapidly approached from afar. Before they even reached the ground, they halted their movement in mid-air.
Upon seeing the speed at which the figures weaved through the air, their ethereal aura, and the misty, enchanting atmosphere, Xue Renkui initially thought celestial deities had indeed descended, and his heart leaped with excitement.
Upon closer inspection, however, his heart sank. It was Xue Ying and Mo Qi.
Why have you come? To die?
Xue Renkui looked at Xue Ying, disappointed that she hadn't lived up to his expectations.
Xue Ying gazed at Xue Renkui, trapped like a cornered beast beneath the barrier, her heart breaking. She was about to leap down.
Mo Qi grabbed her arm, "Hold your horses!"
As he spoke, Mo Qi produced a small box from his storage pouch.
The moment the box was opened, a small, bloody figure sprang out. It opened its mouth and spewed forth an endless torrent of blood, like a celestial river bursting its banks, cascading down and splashing onto the barrier, covering the่่ซ (gu worms).
The gu worms let out strange cries, struggling to climb out of the sea of blood. The blood seemed to possess a spirit, with countless hands and tentacles. As soon as the gu worms emerged, they were dragged back down, only to reappear and be dragged down again.
In moments, the rampaging gu worms dissolved into the sea of blood. Continuous waves of gu worms that continued to attack also fell silently into the blood sea, disappearing without a trace.
A thunderous cheer erupted from the city.
"We're saved!"
"Are they celestial deities?"
"They must be! Look at that ethereal aura, those peerless divine abilities. What else could they be but celestial deities?"
The Xie Yucai siblings watched in awe. Xie Yuchan, in particular, her eyes sparkling with a thousand golden flowers, exclaimed, "It's shopkeeper Mo! So handsome!"
On the Taihe Sect's side, people saw victory within reach and rejoiced. They were already preparing to celebrate their triumph.
As soon as the barrier collapsed, they would charge in like tigers descending from the mountains, their advance unstoppable, their might irresistible.
At that moment, they could unleash their bestial natures! They had endured too much restraint for too long. To hell with being learned and polite, to hell with kindness and amiability, to hell with respecting elders and cherishing the young. In that moment, they would do as they pleased, they would be utterly lawless.
However, in the blink of an eye, the situation changed drastically. These people, who had appeared from nowhere, were attempting to reverse the entire course of the battle with a mere small, bloody figure.
Do you intend to suffocate us?
Do you intend to infuriate us to death?
You heartless demon, you utterly perverse beast!
The disciples of the Taihe Sect were filled with rage, their malice growing with their anger.
Thus, myriad magical arts and divine abilities, emitting multicolored light, struck towards Mo Qi and Xue Ying beside him.
Xue Ying, facing the overwhelming divine light, feeling the fierce winds and the tearing forces, turned pale with fright. She knew she couldn't resist and that her demise was imminent.
Yet, glancing sideways, she saw Mo Qi standing calmly, his body like a steadfast rock, his gaze resolute, like a colossal pillar supporting heaven and earth. Her heart immediately settled, and not a trace of hesitation remained.
Even if she were to be shattered into pieces in the next moment, what did it matter as long as she was with him?
Thus, a hint of an ineffable smile bloomed on her face.
With a low, clear hum that echoed endlessly, a circular magical artifact flew out of thin air, causing ripples like tangible waves to spread through the empty air.
The artifact emitted a brilliant radiance. As it spun and expanded in the air, its white light surged outwards in all directions, above and below, forming an impenetrable shield, like a thick and wide protective dome.
The divine abilities and magical arts launched by the Taihe Sect, upon contact with the light, dimmed instantly like starlight meeting the sun, only to be ruthlessly consumed.
The white light continued to surge forward, like a dragon emerging from the sea, devouring the heavens and the earth, looking down upon the world with disdain.
"What is that?" Everyone from the Taihe Sect, including Long Zhenhai, was utterly astonished.
"Could it be the legendary Qiankun Quan?" someone stammered fearfully.
Indeed, it was the Qiankun Quan. When Mo Qi fought Li Sanlang previously, at the last moment, Li Sanlang had thrown the Qiankun Quan to block Mo Qi's Sun-Chasing Star-Plucking Art, and Mo Qi had directly confiscated it.
Later, Li Sanlang had fainted, and others, focused on leaving, had paid no attention to his missing artifact.
Therefore, Mo Qi had naturally claimed it as his own.
Seeing the Qiankun Quan advance with destructive force, unstoppable, the Taihe Sect disciples were terrified and fled in all directions.
Long Zhenhai was about to order his disciples to unleash their magical artifacts and combine their efforts to block it, but he glanced around and realized no one was left.
Without daring to delay, he immediately unfurled his body and fled into the distance.
Amidst a thunderous roar, divine light shattered, sand and stones flew, and dust billowed from the ground, lingering for a long time.
Seeing the enemy forces in disarray, Xue Renkui knew this was an opportunity not to be missed. He waved his hand, commanding the Zhenghe Sect disciples to pursue.
The barrier was a defensive one, allowing egress but not ingress. Thousands of figures broke through the barrier and surged out in the direction of the fleeing Taihe Sect disciples.
As the saying goes, a defeated army scatters like a collapsing mountain. The fleeing Zhenghe Sect disciples were like leaves with their branches trimmed, tossed about by the wind, their advance unstoppable.
The Zhenghe Sect disciples pursued and slaughtered, leaving the Taihe Sect disciples in utter disarray, their armor scattered, their retreat a desperate scramble.
Xue Renkui led his disciples in pursuit to the border between the two sects. Seeing the Zhenghe Sect retreat to their stronghold, Xue Renkui signaled for the retreat.
Cui Xin said, "Sect Leader, we cannot be overly benevolent! At this moment, it is the best time to annihilate the Taihe Sect. If we press on now while they are unstable, we can surely strike directly at their stronghold and uproot them, eliminating the threat forever. If we retreat now, they will gain a chance to recover and will surely return, causing more destruction and plunder, seizing land, and once again severely damaging our sect!"
Xue Renkui pondered for a moment and then said, "The Taihe Sect deserves to be destroyed, but what about the innocent commoners and cultivation families within their territory? We should not let the flames of war engulf them!"
Cui Xin sighed again, "Overly benevolent." and walked away.
At this moment, Mo Qi and Xue Ying caught up from behind.
Everyone cast looks of gratitude and admiration towards Mo Qi.
If not for Mo Qi's timely arrival, the Zhenghe Sect would likely have been annihilated today, and many people would no longer exist.
To them, Mo Qi was like a celestial deity, turning the tide and saving them from dire straits.
Xue Renkui's attitude changed significantly. He abandoned his previous disdain and contempt, revealing a friendly demeanor. "Child, thank you!"
Mo Qi felt somewhat bewildered and shook his head. "It's nothing. Isn't this what I should do?" He glanced at Xue Ying. "Didn't you say I should take meticulous care of you and not let you suffer any harm? This is my duty."
Xue Ying's pretty face flushed, and she lowered her head.
Xue Renkui paused slightly, then said, "While that may be true, but..."
Several elders walked over, all smiling. "In that case, are we all benefiting from Miss's presence?"
Xue Ying was so embarrassed she couldn't help herself and walked away, blushing.
Mo Qi looked at Xue Renkui and said, "Sect Leader Xue, why don't we press our advantage and attack? If we wait for them to recover, we might be on the defensive again."
Cui Xin, who seemed to have appeared from nowhere, chuckled, "See, I told you so."
Xue Renkui thought for a moment and said, "How about this: we establish our camp here for a few days and simultaneously send a letter seeking peace. Let's see how they respond. If they are willing to cease hostilities and live in peace thereafter, wouldn't that be a happy outcome for all? If they refuse, then we can attack. With shopkeeper Mo here, what fear do we have of defeating a mere Taihe Sect?"
When did this involve me again? Mo Qi was caught off guard. Although he knew Xue Renkui was using him as a tool to appease his followers, he still felt a sense of pride.
Upon hearing this, the disciples found his words reasonable and all looked at Mo Qi. "Yes, we believe in shopkeeper Mo."
Mo Qi said, "Even if we seek peace, we must have the leverage for it. I suggest we cross the border and capture one or two of their towns. Then, we can use these as bargaining chips. Their willingness to negotiate will be greater."
Everyone's eyes lit up at this, and they nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that's a good idea."
Xue Renkui also finally nodded. "Good, let's do that. Let us charge forward."
Thus, the army charged into the Taihe Sect's territory, their advance unstoppable, encountering almost no effective resistance.
The Zhenghe Sect army quickly occupied Muyang Town, a small town on the Taihe Sect's border. The entire army set up camp in Muyang Town. Simultaneously, Xue Renkui penned a letter and sent it to the Taihe Sect, expressing his desire for peace and inviting Long Zhenhai to a peace talk. As long as both sides shook hands and made peace, the Zhenghe Sect would withdraw from Muyang Town and retreat to their original border, not crossing the line.
Two days later, Long Zhenhai indeed arrived.
He was accompanied by two elders and his son, Long Dong.
The negotiations proceeded smoothly. After all, the Taihe Sect had suffered a heavy blow, and the other side was making concessions, offering ample opportunities to save face.
However, it was precisely at this moment that, due to Long Dong's interference, the peace agreement was ultimately not signed.
While Long Zhenhai and Xue Renkui were preparing to sign the agreement in the inner room, Mo Qi, Xue Ying, and Long Dong waited outside.
Xue Ying recalled Mo Qi's return, like a king's triumphant comeback, saving herself and the Zhenghe Sect. Her eyes showed boundless tenderness as she smiled at Mo Qi.
Long Dong, witnessing this, felt it was a provocation and immediately cursed, "What a pair of adulterous lovers, exchanging glances right in front of me."
With two crisp slaps, Long Dong's cheeks swelled.
"Who hit me? Who hit me?" Long Dong clutched his cheeks, on the verge of tears.
Elder Bu stood beside Long Dong. He only saw a blur of red flash, and then Long Dong's face swelled.
He assumed it was Mo Qi and glared at Mo Qi with anger. "You little brat, you dare to lay hands on me? Are you tired of living?"
In reality, Mo Qi was also shocked because it was Xue Ying who had struck. Xue Ying's movement technique was becoming increasingly swift. If it weren't for a gust of wind passing by, he would have truly thought she had never moved.