Reincarnation Immortal Venerable: Starting from the Ninety-Nineth Incarnation

As dawn broke and the morning mist had not yet dissipated, the wind in the desolate countryside carried the lingering demonic energy, making one's skin feel tight.

After collecting the missing person's belongings, Li Yanzhou and his group set off without further delay on their way back to Qiyun Sect to report back. Since the case of the missing persons in Qingyang City had been solved, there was no need to get entangled with the government any further; the sect would handle the handover.

The group hurried along the desolate outskirts of the western part of the city. When they passed the perimeter of the mass grave, everyone instinctively tensed up.

The traces of yesterday's battle were still clearly visible. Dark brown bloodstains clung to the charred broken monument, and the wild grass was blackened by demonic energy. When the wind blew, it made a rustling sound, as if something was lurking in the shadows.

Unnoticed by anyone, a figure stood silently in a corner deep within the mass grave, hidden by dense weeds.

He was wrapped in a large gray robe from the Qiyun Sect, with the brim of his hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face in shadow. Only his clenched fist was visible, his gaze fixed on the departing procession, and a barely perceptible ferocity surging in his eyes.

No one knew who he was, but his attire alone gave off a strange air. Apart from Li Yanzhou and his group, no disciple of the Qiyun Sect would appear alone in this desolate burial ground, much less stare at a fellow disciple's back in such a secretive manner.

As soon as the group stepped out of the mass grave area, a piercing shriek suddenly came from the dense forest ahead. Immediately afterwards, dozens of dark figures darted out from behind the trees, each shrouded in dense demonic energy and wielding a black scimitar, rushing towards them.

"An ambush!" Zhang Hao was the first to react, swinging his sword in front of him. The blade clashed with the scimitar, producing a crisp metallic clang.

Wang Lei followed closely behind, quickly taking out an array plate. With a flick of his fingertips, several streaks of gray light rose up, barely protecting everyone within the array.

Li Yanzhou supported the still dazed Shi Dazhuang, his brows furrowed slightly. The aura of these demonic cultivators was much purer than that of the puppets in yesterday's mass grave. They were all around the mid-stage of the Qi Suppression Realm, and their numbers were so great that it was difficult to break through for the time being.

"Wan'er, Qingyao, protect Dazhuang and Wan'er! Zhang Hao, Wang Lei, follow me and clear a path!"

Everyone immediately responded. Su Qingyao shielded Shi Dazhuang behind her, and with a flick of her wrist, dozens of demon-repelling talismans flew out and landed on the demon cultivators rushing in front, exploding into puffs of white smoke and forcing back the people who were close by.

Lin Wan'er clutched the few remaining binding talismans, her face pale. This place was extremely remote, and the sect had no way of knowing that they had been attacked, nor did they have any way to ask for help.

Li Yanzhou flashed forward, his palm crackling with spiritual energy as he struck the nearest demonic cultivator.

Caught off guard, the demonic cultivator was struck in the chest by a palm strike, spitting out black blood and flying backward. Before he could catch his breath, two more demonic cultivators pounced on him, their curved blades aimed directly at his vital points.

Zhang Hao swung his sword to break the siege in time, but was slashed on the arm by another demonic cultivator's curved blade, and blood instantly stained his sleeve.

Shi Dazhuang was awakened by the sounds of fighting. He rubbed his eyes and saw that everyone was being attacked by the demonic cultivators. He immediately opened his eyes wide with anger, broke free from Su Qingyao's protection, and smashed his huge fist with a whoosh of wind at the demonic cultivators. With one punch, he sent one of the demonic cultivators flying with a broken bone.

But he had exhausted his strength last night and was very weak. After only a few moves, his breathing became unsteady and his steps became unsteady.

The fight lasted less than half an incense stick's time before everyone was exhausted.

Wang Lei's array plate was corroded by demonic energy, and the array patterns gradually dimmed. Lin Wan'er had very few talismans left, and her face was as pale as paper. Su Qingyao was busy healing everyone, and her own spiritual energy was also greatly depleted. Zhang Hao's arm was injured, and his sword speed was much slower. Shi Dazhuang was completely exhausted and could only barely stand in front of everyone.

Li Yanzhou gritted his teeth and pushed his spiritual energy to its limit, but facing dozens of demonic cultivators at the mid-stage of the Qi Suppression Realm, he was ultimately no match for them. His chest was struck by demonic energy, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

He knew in his heart that if this dragged on, everyone would perish here.

Just when everyone was about to give up, a figure suddenly emerged from the depths of the dense forest, his gray robe from the Qiyun Sect standing out conspicuously.

The people locked in combat suddenly brightened up – they were from the same sect!

Despite the excruciating pain in his arm, Zhang Hao quickly waved and cried for help at the man: "Fellow disciple! We've been attacked! Please save us!" He thought it was reinforcements sent by the sect, and his tense nerves relaxed a bit, even his guard was much lowered.

Li Yanzhou's heart stirred slightly, feeling that the man's posture was somewhat strange. Just as he was about to warn Zhang Hao to be careful, he saw the man pause, lift his hat brim slightly, revealing the taut lines of his chin. There was no concern for his fellow disciple in his eyes, but rather a chilling ferocity surging within them.

Before anyone could react, the man suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a jet of dark demonic energy, aimed directly at the unsuspecting Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao cried out in alarm, but it was too late to dodge. The demonic energy slammed into his back, and he groaned as he spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing heavily to the ground and losing consciousness.

"Who...who are you?!" Wang Lei's eyes widened in horror, his hand gripping the sword trembled uncontrollably, and his voice was filled with disbelief.

The man let out a chilling laugh, raised his head, and his voice drowned out the sounds of fighting: "The one who will take your lives."

A powerful aura suddenly erupted from his body, far surpassing all the demonic cultivators present, carrying an overwhelming sense of oppression that made Li Yanzhou and the others gasp for breath.

"Opening Realm... early stage? Your appearance is somewhat familiar. You... you are the person from the entrance selection." Li Yanzhou's pupils contracted, and his heart sank to the bottom. "You were able to hide your cultivation level to enter the Qiyun Sect. What is your purpose?"

He was only at the early stage of the Qi Suppression Realm. Even if he tried his best, he was no match for a cultivator at the Opening Mansion Realm. He could only stall for time and find an opportunity to escape.

"It seems you still remember me. As for your purpose, you don't need to know." The man sneered, raised his hand and waved it. The demonic cultivators who were attacking the group instantly stopped their movements, retreated behind him, and stood with their heads bowed, clearly under his control.

"Li Yanzhou, you ruined my plans. Today is your death day."

Li Yanzhou's heart tightened, and he immediately whispered to the others, "I'll distract him in a moment, and you all take the opportunity to break through towards Qiyun Sect. Every one of you who can escape is a chance!"

"No, Senior Brother Li, we'll go together!" Zhang Hao said through gritted teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his arm.

Wang Lei nodded in agreement, still gripping his sword tightly even though the array plate had failed.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Li Yanzhou shouted sharply, his figure suddenly rushing out, his palm energy bursting out, and he struck at the cultivator in the Opening Mansion Realm.

But as soon as his attack got close to his opponent, it was bounced back by an invisible force, and he crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The man glanced at him disdainfully, then raised his hand and unleashed a stream of dark demonic energy.

Seeing this, Wang Lei immediately rushed forward to shield Li Yanzhou. The demonic energy slammed into Li Yanzhou's back, and Wang Lei groaned, falling to his knees and unable to stand up. The array flag slipped from his hand and was instantly corroded into ashes by the demonic energy.

Su Qingyao protected Lin Wan'er and Shi Dazhuang as they retreated, but they were surrounded by demonic cultivators. A wisp of demonic energy grazed her shoulder, and blood instantly seeped out.

Lin Wan'er turned pale with fright, but still threw out the last few binding talismans, which had no effect whatsoever.

Shi Dazhuang roared and lunged forward, but because he was exhausted, the man gently pushed him. Although he was not injured, he fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string and could not get up again.

In the blink of an eye, apart from Li Yanzhou, the other four were all injured and unconscious.

Li Yanzhou struggled to his feet, covered in blood and extremely weak. He looked at the cultivator at the Opening Mansion Realm before him, then at his unconscious fellow disciple, his heart filled with despair. He had tried his best, but he couldn't protect those around him.

"Was the sect's beast rampage also your doing?" Li Yanzhou stared intently at Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu gave a sinister smile: "Just a little trick."

Li Yanzhou clenched his fists, about to use his last bit of spiritual energy to rush forward, when a familiar yet unfamiliar figure suddenly walked out from the end of the dense forest.

Li Yanzhou subconsciously looked up, and the moment he saw the person's appearance, his pupils suddenly dilated, his eyes turned red, and his face was filled with disbelief. How could it be him?