The group of people on the mountainside that Er Ya had sensed earlier were the villagers of Taoyuan Village.
Upon seeing Pan Shiyi and the others appear, Yan Shouyi's heart sank to the bottom. These were all Li Genmiao's trusted followers; they would surely side with him. And he, at this moment, was truly alone and helpless.
"Everything is about to end," Zheng Youqian said, exerting a slight force, and forcefully pulled San Yuan from the sky down to the ground.
At the same time, the black energy broke free from its restraints and directly burrowed into the Guoshi's body.
Seeing this, Yan Shouyi sighed deeply. He had failed to stop it after all.
Pan Shiyi said indifferently, "Shouyi, we are all inheritors of the various folk sects of the world. This time, you should make some concessions."
Lan Qihuan also tried to persuade Yan Shouyi, hoping he wouldn't oppose Li Genmiao.
"Foolish!" Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth. "Li Genmiao has only ever cared about himself, yet you are still foolishly dying for him! I have completed the second volume of the Lu Ban Shu. From now on, we folk sects will have our own scriptures, and no one will have to suffer from the 'five ailments and three deficiencies' and the 'death tribulations' anymore! However, Li Genmiao wants to claim the second volume of the Lu Ban Shu for himself, thereby attempting to control all inheritors of the folk sects in the world! Do you know that you have committed a colossal mistake just now!!!"
Upon hearing Yan Shouyi's words, Pan Shiyi and the others were as if struck by lightning. The second volume of the Lu Ban Shu was complete? This was… this was simply unbelievable! If that were true, then all their struggles would be meaningless, and all disputes should end!
Pan Shiyi looked at Zheng Youqian, who immediately removed the Immortal Rope binding San Yuan. However, it was already too late. The black energy had already entered the Guoshi's body, and the Guoshi was about to be resurrected!
*Screeeech!*
Jiang Qingxue finally broke free from her restraints. Her first action was to shout at Pan Shiyi and the others, "Old Pan, it's pointless to argue about right and wrong now. Once the Guoshi is resurrected, no one will be his match! Everyone, hurry down the mountain and leave here!!"
With that, she grabbed Yan Shouyi's hand without hesitation and pulled him down the mountain without looking back. Among everyone present, Jiang Qingxue understood the Guoshi's power the best. With so many people present, and yet Jiang Qingxue only urging them to flee, it was evident how terrifying the Guoshi's power was!
Pan Shiyi realized he had made a grave mistake, his expression shifting between worry and anger. He too could feel the faint, powerful aura emanating from the Guoshi.
"We were wrong… we were wrong…" Pan Shiyi finally understood. The villagers of Taoyuan Village were also filled with regret.
As the Guoshi was about to awaken, Pan Shiyi cast a deep look at Yan Shouyi's retreating back, as if he had made a decision.
Lan Qihuan pushed Pan Shiyi's back, urging him, "Old Pan, hurry!"
Pan Shiyi said in a deep voice, "I have committed a great sin; I must atone for it."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Guoshi is about to revive. Our only hope is Shouyi… I will stay here to hold off the Guoshi and try to get Shouyi out of Changbai Mountain!"
When the Guoshi awoke, he would undoubtedly unleash a massacre. If no one could hold him back, Yan Shouyi and Jiang Qingxue would surely die. By then, if no one could bring the second volume of the Lu Ban Shu out of Changbai Mountain, the future of the folk sect inheritors would be plunged into darkness. And to atone for his sins, Pan Shiyi intended to fight to the death, all for the sake of letting Yan Shouyi leave Changbai Mountain!!
"I'll stay too!!!" Zheng Youqian gritted his teeth. "I was the one who made the move just now; I am the sinner for all eternity!"
He was filled with regret, and rather than living on with infamy, he would rather fight desperately to atone for his sins at this very moment.
"I'll stay too! Yan Shouyi is the hope of the folk sects; he must leave here alive!"
"Li Genmiao deceived all of us; I won't let him get away with it!!"
"While he hasn't fully woken up, let's go together!"
The villagers of Taoyuan Village also erupted with hatred towards Li Genmiao, and they all decided to stay and stall for time for Yan Shouyi!
Yan Shouyi, who was fleeing, understood the intentions of Pan Shiyi and the others and couldn't help but mourn in silence. Once the Guoshi woke up, the fate of Pan Shiyi and the others was foreseeable. Although Yan Shouyi did not wish for them to sacrifice themselves, at this moment, nothing was more important than getting the second volume of the Lu Ban Shu out. Therefore, he resolutely turned his head away, not looking back at Pan Shiyi and the others.
"San Yuan!!!!!" he roared. San Yuan immediately flew to his side.
*Mu Kui Fa Tian!*
The giant San Yuan lifted everyone on its back, spread its wings, and flew rapidly down the mountain!
At the same time.
The Guoshi, lying peacefully in his coffin, suddenly opened his eyes! His eyes were blood-red, with no pupils, exuding a terrifying killing intent.
Seeing this, Pan Shiyi and the others used their signature skills to attack the Guoshi. But the Guoshi simply waved his hand, blocking all their attacks. He slowly sat up, his blood-red eyes fixed on Pan Shiyi and the others.
"Do you not owe me allegiance? Why have you suddenly betrayed me?" the Guoshi asked in a deep voice.
Pan Shiyi gritted his teeth, "You want to claim the second volume of the Lu Ban Shu for yourself, to control all the inheritors of the folk sects in the world. This contradicts the ideals we discussed before; you have deceived us!"
"Hmph, short-sighted fools!" the Guoshi said, as if disappointed. "You fight for me today, and when I rule the world tomorrow, there will surely be a place for you. This is such a good thing; others would beg for it, yet you repay kindness with enmity?"
The Guoshi had clearly underestimated the conviction of Pan Shiyi and the others. They had initially united around Yan Chou for the sake of the folk sect inheritors. The reason they eventually parted ways with Yan Chou was simply that they didn't agree with his methods. And now, the Guoshi had deceived them from the very beginning, undermining the foundation of their beliefs. How could these spirited folk sect inheritors agree to this?!
Pan Shiyi stepped forward, and everyone formed a human wall, blocking the Guoshi. "Even if we die today, we will never let you step past here by half a step!"
The Guoshi let out a light snort, a contemptuous smile appearing on his face. Then, his smile quickly vanished, and he uttered a few ruthless words, "Then all of you shall die!!"
Behind the Guoshi, strands of black malevolent energy shot out, like the tentacles of an octopus, reaching Pan Shiyi and the others in the blink of an eye! The tentacles, sharp as swords, pierced Pan Shiyi's chest on the spot, then exploded, dragging his body into the sky before smashing it fiercely onto the ground! In an instant, Pan Shiyi had been reduced to a bloody pulp.
"Old Pan!!" Zheng Youqian's eyes widened with fury. He turned back and glared venomously at the Guoshi, "I'll fight you to the death!!!"
"Do you think you are worthy?" the Guoshi sneered. The tentacles shot out again, directly crushing Zheng Youqian's head.
As his companions fell one after another, blood splattered onto Lan Qihuan's face, even preventing her from opening her eyes. A massacre unfolded by the edge of Tianchi, and despair spread within Lan Qihuan's heart…