Mortal: Fifteenth Realm Sword Cultivator

Chapter 232 Fleeing Upon Landing

"Elder Shi, do you have any way to stop them?"

"Once this ancient teleportation array is activated, it is irreversible. There are only two ways to stop it: one is to destroy it directly with great supernatural powers, and the other is to kill the person still in the array on the spot. There is no other way."

Two slender figures were instantly engulfed by a beam of light under Ling Yuling's complex gaze.

Immediately afterwards, the beam of light suddenly contracted, as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, and then with a loud "boom," it exploded in place, creating a ring of spatial ripples.

After the intense light, the light on the teleportation array quickly dimmed, leaving only a few wisps of smoke and lingering, unsettling spatial fluctuations.

The mid-grade spirit stones embedded in the array plate had already turned into dust.

Ling Yuling stared at the empty teleportation array, her earlier anger replaced by deep worry, which finally turned into a long sigh.

I can't be as pure as Zi Ling Yuan Yao.

I felt both envious and jealous.

"Elder Shi, how do you intend to handle this matter?"

Shi Songpo raised his sleeves slightly, his expression calm. "Does the young palace master want to hear polite words, or my heartfelt advice?"

Ling Yuling said, "The truth."

Shi Songpo lowered his hand and casually waved it, sending out a burst of spiritual energy that instantly dispersed the remaining energy in the air.

Seemingly feeling that it was not enough, another even more condensed beam of light shot straight into the sky, shattering a large patch of dark clouds with a deafening roar.

Suddenly, the sky brightened.

"In my opinion, this matter should not be concealed, but rather publicized. Some cultivators have already used this formation to go to the outer regions to seek opportunities."

Once the news spreads, some cultivators whose lifespans are nearing their end and who have no hope of achieving the Great Dao will be unable to restrain themselves and will be willing to risk their lives to take this opportunity.

Regardless of the outcome, it will be entirely beneficial to the zodiac sign.

"Now that the teleportation array has been repaired, what should we do next?"

"Although we say we won't start a war easily, we can't be too careful. Once all the defensive formations are in place, we need at least one Nascent Soul stage elder to be stationed here and observe the situation."

"Elder Shi may decide for himself."

After saying that, Ling Yuling transformed into a streak of light and flew straight back to her residence.

How could someone with the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage not see through the subtle ripples in the heart of that young girl?

I only worry about the spring breeze and autumn flowers; gatherings and separations are always fleeting, too easily experienced.

I only wish that the spring flowers and autumn moon, and the reunion of old friends, would not be separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, and that it would not be too difficult.

Shi Songpo recalled the resolute figures of the two little girls just now, which were still vivid in his mind.

Without truly possessing it, it's all just a mirage; it's hard to understand why this obsession can burn so intensely, enough to risk one's life and future.

So be it.

His gaze shifted to the corner of the ancient teleportation array at his feet, which had just been repaired by Zi Ling.

With a barely perceptible flick of his sleeve, an extremely pure yet subtle magical power quietly seeped into the depths of the array patterns.

A very faint tremor, like glass shattering.

The crucial point that had just been mended instantly shattered again, exactly as it had been when he first left, and the flow of spiritual energy was once again precisely severed.

The time is not yet ripe.

Shi Songpo's mind stirred slightly as he gazed at the distant horizon.

almost.

It will take at most six months to a year.

The seemingly peaceful situation between the inner and outer seas of the Chaotic Star Sea is likely about to undergo a dramatic and earth-shattering change.

The wind has already begun to stir from the tip of a blade of grass.

Bizarre and fantastical, heaven and earth turned upside down.

As the dizziness subsided, Yuan Yao suddenly opened her eyes.

The surrounding scenery had changed drastically, and the familiar, damp air had vanished without a trace.

However, before she could even get a clear look at her surroundings, a strong sense of crisis pierced her like needles.

The moment they appeared, several powerful divine senses swept across the area as if they were tangible, with even the weakest of them radiating the pressure of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zi Ling forcefully activated her spiritual power even before the dizziness had completely subsided. The "Wooden Dragon Stele," the treasure of the Miaoyin Sect, was instantly summoned.

This treasure was used by Zi Ling during the Battle of Scorpion Island when facing the possession technique of the Extreme Yin Old Demon. If Lu Jianghe had not arrived in time to forcibly end that crisis, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

As soon as the wooden dragon stele appeared, the mysterious runes engraved on it suddenly lit up, and an invisible, shimmering light flowed from the stele, instantly enveloping Zi Ling and Yuan Yao.

As the light swirled, the two figures seemed to be swallowed by space, instantly transforming into a purple streak of light that shot toward the distant horizon at an incredible speed.

The whole process was as fast as lightning.

From the moment she appeared until she activated her magic weapon and fled, Zi Ling didn't even glance around, let alone investigate where she was.

This is precisely the source of their confidence to risk their lives and venture into the unknown.

The supernatural powers contained within the wooden dragon stele are their greatest reliance.

Firstly, it can perform short-distance teleportation. Secondly, this treasure itself can transform into a carrier, carrying the caster to escape at maximum speed, covering hundreds of miles in an instant.

It was precisely because they possessed this trump card that Zi Ling and Yuan Yao dared to agree on this risky move.

Both are intelligent people.

They weren't gambling on some vague concept of luck, but on a real chance of survival that they held firmly in their hands.

A ball of light suddenly brightened and then abruptly disappeared.

As the light faded, the figures of a man and a woman appeared in the air.

The man appeared to be around twenty years old, a young man, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with fair and delicate skin and an exceptionally handsome face, yet possessing an indescribable eeriness.

Upon closer inspection, however, faint wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, adding to his aged appearance.

Even more bizarrely, at first glance, this person was androgynous, exuding a feminine, powdery aura, as if she were a woman dressed as a man.

The woman beside him wore a gorgeous dress, her figure graceful and floating in the air, her face bewitching and charming, and every gesture she made exuded a captivating allure, inspiring endless fantasies.

The eerie man's gaze was like lightning as he swept towards a streak of light rapidly disappearing into the distant horizon, and he let out a soft exclamation.

"Could this kind of escape technique belong to another late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?"

The woman parted her cherry lips slightly, her voice filled with surprise and doubt.

The strange-looking man said slowly, "They're just two Nascent Soul stage juniors, but they're incredibly fast thanks to an ancient treasure."

The strange man who spoke was none other than the old demon of the Hehuan Sect, who called himself "Yunlu Zhenren" and was an old monster in the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm, aside from the late Nascent Soul stage Hehuan Old Demon.

This person was born with extraordinary abilities, possessing both yin and yang qualities, and cultivated the most advanced demonic techniques of the Hehuan Sect, especially skilled in the art of absorbing malevolent energy.

Whether it was due to his cultivation technique or his true nature, he was a womanizer. No matter how handsome or beautiful a man was, once he set his sights on someone, few could escape his clutches. As a result, his reputation was extremely tarnished.

If it weren't for his formidable cultivation at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and the fact that his senior brother was none other than the Hehuan Old Demon, one of the three great cultivators, making others extremely wary and avoid him, his actions would probably have already led to his execution by the masses.

Even so, Yunlu was infamous and utterly disreputable in the cultivation world of Tiannan.

At this moment, several cultivators at the late Core Formation stage rushed over and bowed respectfully upon seeing who it was.

The old demon Yunlu came here for two reasons: first, to bring his daughter Dong Xuan'er to witness the upcoming Nascent Soul level event.

Three months from now, the ownership of the seven spirit islands in the Boundless Sea will be decided through three rounds of arena battles between early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Secondly, I also took the opportunity to participate in discussions regarding the follow-up arrangements for the ancient teleportation array.

Although he was in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm and couldn't participate in the battles, it wouldn't hurt for him to watch the excitement and discuss matters.

Therefore, I was just passing by when I unexpectedly encountered this teleportation anomaly.

Soon, a streak of dark light rushed from afar and stopped a few feet in front of Yunlu. The light faded, revealing a gaunt and slender old man in a black robe.

This person was none other than the Grand Elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect, the Soul Shattering True Man.

The moment the old man landed, even from several meters away, the rich, almost overwhelming scent of perfume wafted straight to his nose and mouth.

His brows immediately furrowed, and the wrinkles on his thin face deepened. Almost instinctively, he held his breath, as if he were inhaling something foul and poisonous, not a fragrance.

The old demon Yunlu was completely unconcerned about the disgusted look on Suihun's face; in fact, a faint, amused smile even appeared on his lips.

These old men, with their dull and old-fashioned appearances, were neither handsome young men nor stunning beauties, so naturally they didn't catch his eye, and he couldn't be bothered to pay them any attention.

The Soul Shatterer suddenly descended, landing steadily at the center of the ancient teleportation array.

With a flick of his sleeve, several spirit stones shimmering with pure spiritual light were precisely embedded into the grooves of the array plate.

The spiritual energy circulation that had just begun to flow on the array plate was instantly cut off, the light dimmed rapidly, and finally came to a complete stop.

"Hmph! Just as I expected!"

The wrinkles on the withered face of the Soul Shatterer deepened, and his eyes flashed with cold light, confirming his earlier guess.

Master Yunlu looked down from his high vantage point, his mood perfectly calm.

Shattered Soul Immortal flew into the air, looking at Cloud Dew Immortal with a complicated expression. His lips moved slightly, as if he had something to say, but he swallowed it back.

How could Master Yunlu not understand what this old ghost was thinking?

They simply wanted to ask why they hadn't captured the two junior Core Formation cultivators the moment they appeared.

He watched helplessly as they activated that strange magical artifact and escaped at a terrifying speed almost comparable to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, missing a golden opportunity in vain.

Instead of offering an explanation, Master Yunlu seemed to be adding fuel to the fire.

"Brother Shattered Soul, with that kind of speed, they probably won't last more than a few breaths. It seems they're heading towards the territory of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. If your sect doesn't send someone to search for them now, they'll really disappear without a trace."

When Shattered Soul Master heard his tone and looked at that androgynous handsome face, he was struck by his voice.

As a fellow Nascent Soul cultivator who had lived for hundreds of years, he found this kind of behavior unbearable for his rigid nature, and he was utterly disgusted by it.

With a flick of his withered hand, the Soul Shattering Immortal produced a communication talisman that instantly appeared in his palm, into which he inscribed his divine sense.

It glowed with a faint light, then transformed into a rainbow and disappeared into the sky.

"Which fellow Daoists does your Hehuan Sect plan to send to participate in the arena?"

Hearing this, Yunlu thought about it seriously for a moment, then slowly said, "Selecting three top-tier, strong early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the entire Six Sects... tsk, I reckon our Joyful Union Sect probably wouldn't be up to the task. But your Ghost Spirit Sect seems to have one or two who are quite capable?"

Upon hearing this, Shattered Soul True Man couldn't help but sneer.

What does Yunlu mean by "better at fighting"?

That's easy for you to say.

Speaking of this duel, especially within the early Nascent Soul stage, there are actually very few truly top-tier fighters among the six major demonic sects.

While it's possible to find a few individuals with remarkable abilities in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, those at the early stage are truly rare and difficult to find.

"Although this competition is called a friendly exchange, the battle between Nascent Soul cultivators is by no means child's play. At best, one will be injured and lose vital energy; at worst, one's foundation will be damaged. If one gets angry and cannot stop in time, and fights with true fire, even a hundred years of hard cultivation may be in vain."

"Brother Shattered Soul is right. In fact, whether this matter succeeds or not is secondary. The most important thing is that our six sects can ensure that we seize the two spirit islands and not be left at the bottom."

Yunlu took this matter in a very relaxed way.

Having reached the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he has long since lost interest in the so-called competition for resources.

The mineral veins contained in these seven spirit islands are indeed precious, but they are useless to mid-Nascent Soul cultivators.

Whether you fight or not, whether you fight more or less, it's all about saving face.

Often it's not a matter of whether we want to fight or not, but rather that we have no choice but to fight.

If the six sects of the demonic path among the four major powers of Tiannan do not get involved.

In the future, they will inevitably be at a disadvantage in terms of resource allocation and bargaining power.

Such is the state of the cultivation world; under the influence of the prevailing trend, even Nascent Soul cultivators cannot escape these invisible shackles.

Often, you can't simply step down when you want to, nor can you advance at will. Those in positions of power must strategize and leverage their influence.

The Soul Shatterer then looked at the woman beside him, "She's quite a promising talent."

Dong Xuan'er quickly bowed, her voice soft and sweet, carrying a natural allure, "Thank you for your praise, Senior."

Shattered Soul Master nodded.

Being able to stay by the side of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator at all times, never leaving their side, is basically considered the highest level of protection in the cultivation world.

It seems that this woman is indeed, as rumored, a direct descendant of the old monster Yunlu.

Yunlu smiled slightly, his wide sleeves fluttering gently, and a soft breeze lifted Dong Xuan'er up. His gaze shifted, carrying a hint of mockery.

"This child has decent looks and potential; could it be that Brother Shattered Soul has taken a liking to him? But—"

He deliberately dragged out his words, his voice carrying a uniquely feminine and delicate quality, "With your current level, I certainly won't agree. But if you can break through to the late Nascent Soul stage, I wonder if I might consider it."

Upon hearing this, the withered face of the Soul Shatterer twitched violently, and his expression instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Dong Xuan'er, standing to the side, remained calm.

In the world of cultivation, realm represents everything.

Aside from feeling a little uncomfortable, she wasn't too upset.

Suppressing his disgust, True Immortal Shattered Soul changed the subject irritably: "The others who were supposed to come have all arrived. Don't keep those old fogies waiting too long."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already transformed into a streak of black light and sped away.

Yunlu gazed in the direction he disappeared, chuckled softly, and turned to Dong Xuan'er, saying, "That old man, he's already incredibly lucky to have cultivated to the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm in his lifetime."

Dong Xuan'er blinked, and asked with a hint of innocence, "Father, is it really that difficult to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage?"