Xu Wen did not respond to Gao Hong's plea for help; instead, he maneuvered his spirit ship and retreated.
If he were to easily help Gao Hong at this moment, it would very likely lead to retaliation from the Xuantian Sword Sect. Before having absolute confidence, Xu Wen was naturally unwilling to easily take risks. His gaze was profound as his Divine Sense searched everywhere for Li Mu's whereabouts, trying to uncover the function of that mysterious Dao Artifact.
To be able to easily escape and hide his tracks under the hands of a Peak Body Integration Cultivator, the mysterious abilities of that Dao Artifact far exceeded his imagination. Xu Wen was secretly alarmed, and at the same time, he developed a strong interest in Li Mu's strength and that mysterious Dao Artifact.
Facing Xu Wen's refusal to help, Gao Hong cursed, "No wonder Taiyi Sect has been the second-ranked Sect for ten thousand years and is gradually declining; it turns out there are only cowards within the Sect!"
Gao Hong's voice echoed across the empty battlefield, filled with unwillingness and anger. He could only continuously detonate several Magic Treasures, using their self-destructive power to resist the attacks of Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen, releasing world-destroying energy.
Under the impact of the Magic Treasure self-detonations and the sharp Sword Qi, the shockwaves generated by the explosions tore the surrounding space to shreds. Light and smoke intertwined into Chaos, obscuring the sky.
Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen were exceptionally powerful, but they also had to temporarily avoid the brunt of the attacks, moving agilely through the air, searching for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow to Gao Hong.
Gao Hong parried left and right, struggling to cope. Fortunately, several Elders from the Nether Sect came to his aid, allowing him to hold on for a while longer.
Gao Hong looked at Xuanxiao Sect Leader Xin Tiansen and Extreme Yin Sect Master Liu Zongwei, eager to form a united front, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xin, Fellow Daoist Liu, currently the two Dao Lords of Xuantian and Qinghong are trapped in the Nine Heavens Cold Domain and cannot free themselves within a hundred years. Now is the best time to suppress the Xuantian Sword Sect."
"You 姓 Xu!" Gao Hong glared at Xu Wen, sending a Divine Thought message directly into Xu Wen's ear: "If you can lend me a hand today, I will repay you generously in the future. The Xuantian Sword Sect is powerful, but today is a heaven-sent opportunity. If we miss this chance, Taiyi Sect may never have such an opportunity again."
However, Xu Wen was not swayed in the slightest. Taiyi Sect had its own way of survival. Before confirming the situation of the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect, Taiyi Sect would never easily make a bet.
"Fellow Daoist Gao, I'll help you!"
"You 姓 Feng, your opponent is me!"
Two powerful spiritual forces emerged from the flanks. Xuanxiao Sect Leader Xin Tiansen and Extreme Yin Sect Master Liu Zongwei resolutely joined the battle, providing timely support to Gao Hong, jointly confronting Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen.
Their forces were located outside the domain and were already hostile to the Xuantian Sword Sect, so they had no need to worry too much. Moreover, with the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect trapped in Nine Heavens, this was a rare opportunity, and they were willing to fall out with the Xuantian Sword Sect.
Xin Tiansen held an ancient long sword, its light like a Dragon, cutting through the sky. Each strike contained world-destroying power, directly aimed at Sword Master Feng.
Liu Zongwei, on the other hand, unleashed his unique secret technique. A chilling Law Domain spread out, solidifying everything around it. He controlled several black ghostly figures that entangled Sword Master Chen, making his movements sluggish.
With the addition of Xin Tiansen and Liu Zongwei, the battlefield situation instantly reversed. Gao Hong's pressure drastically reduced. He seized the opportunity to adjust his state, forming a tripartite standoff with the two Sect Masters, jointly confronting the two powerhouses of the Xuantian Sword Sect.
The combined power of the three Sect Master-level experts was astonishing. Even Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen had to go all out to deal with this sudden change.
For a time, sword light and magic spells intertwined on the battlefield, and the roaring sounds of spiritual energy collisions echoed through the clouds.
All parties watched from a distance, all shocked by this sudden fierce battle, gazing from afar at the world-shattering battlefield.
"It's too terrifying. The battle of Body Integration powerhouses. If they continue to fight like this, the entire continent will collapse," an experienced old man sighed in a low voice, his eyes filled with worry.
The younger generation of Cultivators, however, had their eyes wide open, filled with shock and longing. They had never seen a confrontation of this level.
"That's right! The high-level figures of several top forces in the Spirit Realm engaging in such a fierce battle will likely ignite a great war," another Void Refining Elder said with deep concern.
As the fierce battle erupted, it seemed as if only the intertwining of sword light and magic spells, and deafening roars, remained between heaven and earth. The wind and clouds changed, and the sun and moon lost their light.
As Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen engaged with the three, they diverted some of their attention to observe Li Mu.
They saw Li Mu's figure suddenly appearing out of the Void Realm far from the battlefield, as the Yin-Yang Essence Wheel separated and reunited. With a distance of several hundred li, both of them couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
That young man, to be able to escape so easily from Gao Hong's hands and hide several hundred li away, the coordination between Li Mu's strength and that Yin-Yang Dao Artifact was truly astonishing.
Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen exchanged glances, their eyes filled with both relief and anticipation.
"Elder Li, quickly return to the Sect and call for reinforcements. Today, we are going to have a fight with these Sects." Sword Master Feng, while swinging Green Iris and releasing sharp Sword Qi, quickly sent a Divine Thought message to Li Mu, speaking in an unquestionable tone.
"That's right, Elder Li, you go first, we'll hold them off!" Sword Master Chen followed closely, transmitting his thoughts.
Upon hearing this, a warm current surged through Li Mu's heart. He understood the good intentions of the two Sword Masters and no longer hesitated, immediately nodding in reply: "Two Sword Masters, rest assured, Li Mu will not fail your trust. I will immediately return to the Sect and order the other Sword Elders to come and assist!"
With that, Li Mu's figure unfolded, and with the profound power of the Yin-Yang Essence Wheel, he transformed into a streak of light, cutting through the sky and instantly disappearing from everyone's sight.
Watching Li Mu leave, Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen continued to entangle with the three top powerhouses of the opposing side.
"Damn it!"
Seeing Li Mu escape, Gao Hong was furious. He roared, and endless Nether power surged around him, like dark clouds obscuring the sky, wildly surging.
"Fellow Daoist Xin, Fellow Daoist Liu, fully cooperate with me! Let's deal with these two troublesome guys first!" Gao Hong's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable majesty.
Xin Tiansen and Liu Zongwei exchanged glances, knowing that this matter could no longer be resolved peacefully. If they could completely eliminate Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen, it would be a huge victory for their Sects. Not only would it weaken the Xuantian Sword Sect's strength, but it would also establish higher prestige among the various forces in the Spirit Realm.
Thus, the two simultaneously nodded, each activating their Body Integration Law Domain and unleashing their most powerful secret techniques, fully cooperating with Gao Hong's offensive.
Xin Tiansen formed hand seals, and with a wave of the fire-elemental Dao Sword in his hand, a huge fissure suddenly opened in the sky, from which a scorching torrent of flames surged out, like an enraged Dragon emerging from the sea, directly engulfing Sword Master Feng.
That flame contained destructive power. Even Sword Master Feng dared not take it head-on. He leaped lightly, like a willow catkin in the wind, easily avoiding the surging torrent of flames.
However, mere evasion was by no means a long-term solution. He had to find the opponent's weakness and deliver a fatal blow.
Thus, Sword Master Feng took a deep breath, spiritual energy surged within him, and the Green Iris Sword in his hand instantly glowed brightly. Green wind essence surrounded the sword body. The wind-elemental Dao Sword—Green Iris—was unleashed with a single strike.
"Wind Sweeps Clouds, Green Iris Breaks Void!" Sword Master Feng roared, his figure transforming into a green whirlwind, carrying endless Sword Intent and wind power, directly rushing towards the torrent of flames. Each swing was accompanied by gusts of wind Sword Qi. The flames and the wind Law Domain violently collided, causing the heavens and earth to change color.
At the same time, Sword Master Chen confronted Liu Zongwei. The opponent was like a ghost, incredibly fast, with a bone-chilling Extreme Yin Law Domain. Several Yin Dragons roared as they attacked Sword Master Chen. Each Yin Dragon contained enough Yin Sha power to make a Body Integration Cultivator's heart palpitate.
But Sword Master Chen's expression remained unchanged. The Gengjin Dao Sword in his hand was like a living thing. With a light tap of the sword tip, the sword light wove like a tapestry, instantly forming a dense sword net in the air, severing those roaring Yin Dragons one by one.
Just as both sides were locked in fierce combat, Gao Hong finally completed the channeling of his heaven-reaching spell, unleashing his Body Integration Law Domain—Nether Law Domain, Nether Devouring Heaven.
He stood at the center, and the Nether power around him surged wildly, gradually forming a huge black vortex that swallowed both Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen.
"Hahahaha, daring to be our enemy, today I shall let you witness the true power of the Nether!" Gao Hong burst into laughter, his voice tinged with madness and triumph.
"Green Iris, Wind Howls Nine Heavens!" Sword Master Feng roared. The Green Iris Sword in his hand transformed into a green tornado, wildly tearing at the surrounding Nether Qi, creating space for the two of them to survive.
"Gengjin, Sword Breaks Firmament!" Sword Master Chen simultaneously drew his sword. The Gengjin Dao Sword transformed into a dazzling golden sword light, piercing directly into the core of the Nether Law Domain, attempting to break this terrifying cage from within.
The two, one attacking and one defending, cooperated seamlessly. Sharp Sword Qi crisscrossed, and gradually, the Nether Qi within the Nether Law Domain began to thin, and the huge black vortex also seemed to show signs of loosening.
Just as the five were locked in fierce combat, Xu Wen watched Li Mu leave. He withdrew from observing the battle, cast a 遁術, and quietly followed him.
Before long, Xu Wen had quietly approached Li Mu. He saw Li Mu, aided by the power of the Yin-Yang Essence Wheel, was performing the Time-Space Wheel Sutra and the Five Elements Escape Technique, alternating at full speed. Each flicker of his figure covered a distance of several hundred li.
"Great Master Li, please stay!" Xu Wen's voice suddenly rang in Li Mu's ears. At the same time, his figure appeared not far in front of Li Mu, with a slight smile on his face and sincerity in his eyes.
"Sect Leader Xu, why is this? Taiyi Sect and Xuantian Sword Sect have thousands of years of friendship. Are you not afraid of affecting the friendly relationship between the two Sects because of this?" Li Mu looked at Xu Wen with a wary expression, his brows tightly furrowed.
Xu Wen smiled faintly and waved his hand, signaling Li Mu not to be nervous.
"Great Master Li, you worry too much. My pursuit this time is not out of malice, nor to destroy the friendship between our two Sects. In fact, I have a request, one that concerns the future of my Taiyi Sect."
Xu Wen flew forward a bit, maintaining a distance from Li Mu that was neither offensive nor inconvenient for conversation, and continued, "Great Master Li, please allow me to elaborate. My actions this time are actually out of admiration for your craftsmanship, and a bit of my own selfishness."
Xu Wen paused, his eyes showing more seriousness and anticipation, saying, "Great Master Li has extraordinary accomplishments in the Dao of Artifact Refining. All the Dao Artifacts you refine are masterpieces. However, although Taiyi Sect has made progress in many aspects in recent years, it has always been difficult to break through the Bottleneck in the refining of high-end Dao Artifacts. After much thought, I believe only an Artifact Refining Great Master like you can lend a hand to our Sect."
Seeing Li Mu still maintain his vigilance, Xu Wen continued to explain, "My Taiyi Sect treasures an ancient spirit Material called 'Chaos Spirit Crystal.' It contains the Chaos Power from before the separation of heaven and earth, making it an excellent Material for refining top-tier Dao Artifacts. However, for many years, no one in our Sect has been able to control its power, let alone refine it into an Artifact."
At this point, Xu Wen's voice could not hide a trace of regret, but then it was filled with anticipation as he looked at Li Mu and sincerely invited, "I observe that Great Master Li has unique insights and profound accomplishments in the Dao of Artifact Refining. Therefore, I boldly request that you condescend to visit my Taiyi Sect and attempt to refine this 'Chaos Spirit Crystal' into a supreme treasure that can protect our Sect and deter all demons?"
"Sect Leader Xu, let's discuss Artifact Refining another day. Just bring that spirit Material. I am currently inconvenienced." Li Mu's tone carried a hint of apology, but more so an unquestionable resolve, as he warily said, "And I observe that Sect Leader Xu seems to have something more to say!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Wen's expression changed slightly, as if he was hesitating whether to reveal the next piece of news. But after a moment, he sighed, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, and indicated, "Great Master Li, you are unaware, the reason I am so eager is because I received a piece of news: the Xuantian Sword Sect is about to face an unprecedented great change. According to reliable sources, the two Dao Lords within the Xuantian Sword Sect were accidentally trapped in the Nine Heavens Secret Realm during an exploration, their lives unknown. If this is true, it will be a devastating blow to the Xuantian Sword Sect."
"Great Master Li, if you continue to stay in the Xuantian Sword Sect, you might be implicated. Thinking back, Hu Elder had already invited you to join our Sect, but unfortunately, the Xuantian Sword Sect intercepted you midway. It is truly a great regret for our Sect," Xu Wen said with a regretful expression.
"Sect Leader Xu, is that true!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mu was greatly shocked. The two Dao Lords were the mainstays of the Xuantian Sword Sect. If anything happened to them, the entire Sect could fall into turmoil.
Xu Wen nodded, took out an ancient Jade Slip from his embrace, and handed it to Li Mu, explaining, "This is information I obtained from the Tianji Building. The Nine Heavens Secret Realm has undergone a major change, and the two Dao Lords, Xuantian and Qinghong, have ventured deep into it. Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, given the Tianji Building's credibility, this matter is highly likely."
"Sect Leader Xu, thank you for informing me. This matter is of great importance, and I must immediately return to the Sect to inform the Elder Council." Li Mu waved his hand to take the Jade Slip, not looking at it closely, and was about to bid farewell and leave.
However, a hint of anger flashed in Xu Wen's eyes. He reached out to stop Li Mu and continued to 'kindly persuade' him, "Great Master Li, wait. I know you are concerned about your Sect, but if you return rashly now, it might be difficult to solve the problem immediately. Moreover, the Nine Heavens Secret Realm is full of dangers; even Dao Lords find it difficult to escape unscathed. I suggest you first come with me to Taiyi Sect. Firstly, we can discuss in detail how to rescue the two Dao Lords, and secondly, if truly needed, you can also use the power of my Taiyi Sect to jointly deal with this crisis!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mu sighed. Soft tactics wouldn't work; it seemed he would have to resort to force. (End of Chapter)
