Seven Profound Sect, Gold Divinity Peak back mountain, secluded bamboo forest.
A sword shadow streaked through the air.
Qiu Yuanhong moved like lightning, and in a short while, he landed in a secluded spot.
As he arrived, the illusion formation automatically dispersed, revealing a small path through the forest that led directly to a building complex made of green bamboo and bluestone, exuding an extraordinary and ethereal aura. This was Li Mu's secluded cultivation retreat.
“Elder Qiu, are you looking for Li Dage? He’s already left!”
Miss Xue Er, dressed in a white dress, walked out of a bamboo hut. Seeing Qiu Yuanhong, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes as she spoke softly.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuanhong paused, a look of relief flashing across his brows. He asked urgently, “Has Elder Li already departed? When? Did he leave any message or indicate his destination?”
Presumably, Li Mu must have left some contingency, knowing that the three Sealed Lands in the Southern Wasteland, Northern Region, and Nether Water Sea Domain were under fierce attack by the Devil Abyss Army, and had gone to provide assistance.
“Li Dage didn’t leave any specific instructions!” Miss Xue Er recalled, a hint of imperceptible worry in her eyes. “He suddenly came out of seclusion and left in a great hurry. It seemed he had something extremely important on his mind, but where he went, Xue Er doesn’t know either.”
“Elder Qiu, what happened? Will Li Dage be in danger on this trip?” Miss Xue Er’s words carried a sense of urgency. Although she wasn’t clear about what exactly happened, from Qiu Yuanhong’s expression, she could vaguely sense an unusual urgency.
However, Li Mu left in such a hurry that Miss Xue Er didn’t even have time to ask, nor could she catch up to him.
Now, Qiu Yuanhong’s hurried visit, his flustered and worried expression, and his slight relief upon learning that Li Mu had already departed, all indicated that something major had happened… Miss Xue Er’s emotional perception missed nothing.
“Miss Xue Er, you’re overthinking it. I just happened to want to commission Elder Li for Artifact Refining. If he’s not here, then so be it. I’ll come another day,” Qiu Yuanhong said, feigning relaxation and laughing, quickly explaining.
A flash of insight flickered in Miss Xue Er’s eyes. The Divine Ability of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Bloodline allowed her to keenly detect the subtle changes in Qiu Yuanhong’s words.
Miss Xue Er bit her lip lightly, deciding not to beat around the bush and directly exposing him, asking, “Elder Qiu, are you hiding something from me? Li Dage’s hurried departure and your arrival both seem so unusual.”
“Elder Qiu, don’t hide it. Xue Er is skilled at sensing emotions. Your expression, your words, all tell me that this matter is no small feat. Li Dage’s trip must be related to the crisis the Sect is facing,” Miss Xue Er added, looking directly into Qiu Yuanhong’s eyes.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuanhong’s body trembled slightly. He looked at Miss Xue Er with a complicated gaze, momentarily taken aback, only then remembering her identity and her abilities.
After a moment of silence, Qiu Yuanhong sighed softly, finally deciding not to conceal it any longer.
“Miss Xue Er, you are indeed exceptionally intelligent. That’s right, the Sect is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. The Demon Abyss forces have invaded this realm again, and the three Seals in the Southern Wasteland, Northern Region, and Nether Water Sea Domain have successively sent urgent pleas for help. Elder Li must have gone to assist after learning of this matter,” Qiu Yuanhong explained, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Miss Xue Er’s face turned pale, but she quickly composed herself, her eyes sparkling with determination, and asked with concern, “Elder Qiu, do you know which Sealed Land Li Dage went to? I want to go support him.”
Hearing this, Qiu Yuanhong was startled and quickly stopped her, saying, “Miss Xue Er, absolutely not! The Devil Cultivators of the Demon Abyss are incredibly fierce, and the situation in the Sealed Land is complex and ever-changing. Your going there would only add danger. You must not act rashly.”
However, there was no hint of retreat in Miss Xue Er’s eyes. She said resolutely, “Elder Qiu, I have already survived the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation, and Li Dage has also refined a large number of Dao Artifacts for my self-defense. My methods are not inferior to those of ordinary Body Integration Cultivators. Moreover, how can I rest easy here when Li Dage is in trouble? Furthermore, I have the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Bloodline and acute senses, which might be useful at a critical moment.”
Qiu Yuanhong met Miss Xue Er’s resolute gaze, and a complex emotion surged within him. He also understood the extraordinary nature of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Bloodline, but the power of the Demon Abyss forces and the danger of the Sealed Land were no laughing matter.
“Miss Xue Er, I absolutely do not mean to belittle you. Your staying in the Sect to ensure stability in the rear is the best support for Elder Li. If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to Elder Li!” Qiu Yuanhong looked at Miss Xue Er, earnestly persuading her.
Miss Xue Er frowned slightly upon hearing this, but she had no intention of giving up. “Elder Qiu, I understand your concerns. I will not easily put myself in danger, and I am confident that with my strength and the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Bloodline, I can play a role at a critical moment. I hope Elder Qiu will inform me of Li Dage’s whereabouts.”
“This… Elder Li’s Sect token, whether due to distance or other reasons, I also do not know Elder Li’s exact whereabouts,” Qiu Yuanhong frowned and replied.
Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Miss Xue Er’s eyes: “Since that is the case, I will go to the Northern Abyss first to check; if the Northern Abyss Seal is in urgent need, Li Dage is very likely to have gone or is about to go there. Although my cultivation is not as high as Li Dage’s, I can still do my part.”
Having said that, Miss Xue Er’s figure flickered, about to soar into the sky, but she was stopped by Qiu Yuanhong again.
“Miss Xue Er, wait!” Qiu Yuanhong’s expression was solemn. He took out an exquisite jade talisman from his embrace. “This is our Sect’s communication jade talisman. Please take it. If you truly encounter danger, you can use it to call for my help, and I will rush over as quickly as possible.”
Miss Xue Er took the jade talisman, and a warm current surged in her heart. She knew that Elder Qiu was worried about her safety and had specially prepared a fallback for her.
Miss Xue Er nodded gratefully and carefully put away the jade talisman.
“Elder Qiu, don’t worry. I will be careful,” Miss Xue Er said. Her figure flickered, transforming into a white light, and she sped north, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Watching Miss Xue Er disappear into the distance, Qiu Yuanhong sighed helplessly with a bitter smile, “This is trouble now. If anything happens to Miss Xue Er, when Elder Li returns, how am I going to explain it to him?!”
Meanwhile, Li Mu was rushing towards the Southern Wasteland at an astonishing speed.
The high-grade Lightning Escape Talisman in his hand shone with dazzling light, boosting his speed to the extreme, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the sky. The scenery along the way blurred in his eyes, leaving only streaks of afterimages.
At the same time, Li Mu skillfully used the numerous teleportation arrays left along the way, using teleportation array artifacts to optimize his teleportation to the Southern Wasteland. With the alternating use of high-grade Lightning Escape Talismans and teleportation arrays, his Combined Body Realm cultivation fully erupted, allowing him to rush to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range in the Southern Wasteland at an extremely fast pace.
Just as Li Mu was rushing at full speed to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, the battle in the depths of the Southern Wasteland’s Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range had already entered a white-hot stage.
The Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix merged with the Blazing Hell Grand Formation, displaying astonishing power. Countless Phoenix phantoms soared in the air, firmly trapping the Immortal Devil God Avatar and the Devil Dragon Master - You Yuan.
The Immortal Devil God Avatar continuously swung the Devil Sword in his hand, unleashing streaks of dark Sword Qi, attempting to completely destroy the Seal Grand Formation. However, whenever the Sword Qi touched a Phoenix phantom, it would be devoured by the scorching flames and turn into nothingness.
The Devil Dragon Master - You Yuan also roared in pain under the scorching flames, its scales melting, its massive body struggling in the flames. It tried to extinguish the flames on its body with Dragon Breath, but the flames seemed to have a life of their own, constantly clinging to its body, devouring its power.
Although the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix’s true essence was almost exhausted, she still persisted, her eyes filled with determination. As long as she had a breath left, she would never abandon her responsibility of guarding the spiritual land.
Within the protective formation, Yun Yi, as well as the distant Fang Yunjian, and a group of Void Refining Cultivators, were either dead or maimed. Numerous battleships crashed to the ground, shattered into pieces, and the battlefield was a mess. At this moment, only the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix was barely holding on, relying on the power of the Seal Grand Formation, and the situation had reached a precarious state.
Just as the situation was about to be decided, the Devil God Incarnation’s eyes gleamed with excited killing intent, and he launched a final attack, preparing to completely obliterate this damned Seven-rank True Spirit and the protective grand formation.
The Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix, on the verge of despair, felt unwilling, but her body had reached its limit. The light of the flames began to dim, and the Phoenix phantoms also seemed powerless, as if they could dissipate into nothingness at any moment.
At this moment, the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix suddenly felt a familiar and powerful Divine Soul fluctuation, and a surge of inexplicable joy welled up in her heart.
“Master! Master is here!” The Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix whispered in her heart. This sudden hope was like a ray of light in the darkness, reigniting her fighting spirit.
“Die for me!” The Devil God Incarnation roared, and the Devil Sword glowed with black light, condensing all of his power, preparing to deliver a fatal blow. However, at this critical moment, a brilliant sword light, like a meteor streaking across the sky, instantly appeared on the battlefield, directly striking the Devil God Incarnation.
This sword light was extremely sharp, carrying boundless might, and in an instant, it crossed hundreds of miles to strike.
The Devil God Incarnation felt this power, and a hint of shock flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected that at this crucial moment, someone could launch such a powerful attack from such a long distance.
“Bang!” The sword light collided with the Devil Sword, producing a deafening roar.
The Devil God Incarnation only felt a powerful force coming through, and his body involuntarily retreated several steps, his Devil Sword almost flying out of his hand.
The next moment, the owner of that sword light, Li Mu, arrived through the void. He was dressed in a green robe, holding a black sword, his eyes as cold as frost, as if capable of freezing everything.
His arrival instantly turned the tide of the once desperate battlefield.
“Elder Li!”
“Master!”
“Master Li!”
...
When the Cultivators saw who it was, they all cried out in surprise, filled with excitement. Their eyes shone with unbelievable joy and ecstasy as they looked at Li Mu. His appearance was like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, bringing them the hope of life.
“Crimson Flame, everyone, you’ve worked hard!”
Li Mu’s voice was calm and powerful. His gaze swept over the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix and the surviving Cultivators present.
Upon seeing Li Mu, the heavy stone in the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix's heart finally dropped. She manifested her human form, her face full of exhaustion, and said weakly, “Master, you’ve come!”
After speaking, the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix stared fiercely at the Devil God Incarnation and solemnly warned, “Be careful of that Devil Head!”
“Mm!” Li Mu nodded lightly, looking at the Devil God Incarnation, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips: “Today, I will surely slay this Devil, to eliminate future troubles.”
“It’s you!”
The Devil God Incarnation stared intently at Li Mu, immediately recognizing the identity of this fellow. He was none other than the culprit who, last time, had united with the Body Integration Sword Cultivators, set up the sword formation, and controlled the spell array, leading to the destruction of his other Devil God Incarnation and the failure of his plan.
The Immortal Devil God would never forget Li Mu’s aura, even if he turned to ash!
“Hmph, I didn’t expect you to dare come alone. Today will be your death day!” The Devil God Incarnation’s eyes widened in fury, and Devilish Qi surged around him, clearly enraged to the extreme. His demonic read locked onto Li Mu, and the Eternal Devil Sword in his hand slashed fiercely.
Li Mu, however, paid no mind to his threat. Instead of retreating, he advanced, holding the Five Elements Dao Sword. His figure was like a wisp of clear wind, performing the Divine Ability - Space-Cleaving Art. His figure suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of the Devil God Incarnation.
With a crisp “ding” sound.
Two figures, one green and one black, collided instantly in the air. In that instant, heaven and earth paused.
Immediately after, Devilish Qi and Sword Qi erupted in a powerful shockwave, sweeping across the entire battlefield like a hurricane. The entire battlefield was instantly enveloped by this powerful force, and the ground instantly sank by dozens of feet.
Sensing the destruction to the earth and the Sealed Land, Li Mu’s figure moved, instantly widening the distance from the Devil God Incarnation, transforming into a wisp of clear wind and appearing in the distance.
“You want to kill me? I’m just afraid you don’t have the ability!”
Li Mu smiled faintly. As soon as his voice fell, his figure vanished again, reappearing beside the Devil Dragon Master - You Yuan, as if entering an unmanned territory. Before it could react, the Five Elements Dao Sword in his hand had already transformed into a five-colored sword light, striking directly at You Yuan’s vital point.
“What?!”
The Devil Dragon Master - You Yuan was terrified. As a dignified Great Vehicle Dao Realm being, he actually felt an unprecedented threat of death from this sudden attack. His massive body twisted in the air, trying to evade this fatal blow, but Li Mu’s sword light followed him like a shadow, its speed beyond imagination.
“Roar!”
You Yuan let out an angry Dragon roar, his entire body boiling with Devilish Qi. His Devil Dragon Dao Domain instantly condensed into a black shield, attempting to block the five-colored sword light.
However, the Five Elements Dao Sword, as a supreme treasure between heaven and earth, with Li Mu’s enhancement, its power doubled. The sword light collided with the shield without any hindrance, instantly piercing through the black shield. The five-colored sword light continued unabated, directly pressing towards You Yuan’s heart.
“You dare!” The Devil God Incarnation roared upon seeing this, his Devilish Qi soaring to the sky. His figure shot up, attempting to stop Li Mu. He clearly hadn’t expected that the other party could not only withstand his attack but also use the momentum to strike You Yuan, and at such an incredible speed that it caught him off guard.
“Pfft!” You Yuan let out a miserable shriek, his eyes filled with terror.
The Five Elements Dao Sword in Li Mu’s hand trembled slightly, its tip already piercing through You Yuan’s massive Dragon body, a splash of fresh blood flying out.
You Yuan’s body trembled violently in the air, its massive body overflowing with Devilish Qi, and its Dao Domain also struggled to maintain itself, clearly having suffered a heavy blow.
On the other side, Li Mu’s figure gracefully spun in the air, floating steadily. The Five Elements Dao Sword hovered by his side, his robes fluttering, appearing like an Immortal. He wore a faint smile, his gaze calm as he met the Devil God Incarnation’s eyes. (End of Chapter)
