Chapter 694: A noble warrior defending the monsters

Cao Yun was bleeding profusely. His abrupt exit from the array formations surrounding the Holy Hongxue City had not really hurt him to be honest. Although he had crashed through half of a nearby forest, it had almost no impact on his physique. On the other hand, the injuries he had sustained from the actual fight were severe and his soul was simply too exhausted to help him control his blood or Qi efficiently. In fact, the moment the fight was over, all of Cao Yun's tension dissipated and with it, he released any hold he had on his soul. The young man was close to complete unconsciousness. Even his physical senses were failing him now. He could barely open his eyes, his ears were ringing, he could only taste iron in his mouth and pain was coursing through his entire body.

Through the ringing in his ears, Cao Yun did hear Dian Mo's words who was trying to keep him awake. But he couldn't make them out. He could only hear the sound of his voice with no understanding of what he was saying. Then, another familiar noise broke through. All of a sudden, he heard a screech. After that, a warm sensation took over his body, almost pushing all of his pain away. Finally, he felt a soft fabric caressing him. Immediately he recognized Hongyu's feathers.

The majestic Heaven-Searing Fenghuang was towering over the broken body of Cao Yun. She had been waiting a bit farther from the city. Even the Silver Wolf Marshal and his Six Fangs Generals had failed to notice her. But as soon as she sensed the activation of the array formations, she knew that her brother was in danger. Thus, she had flown closer and closer. Suddenly, she had heard Cao Yun when he jumped out of the array formations. The moment she smelled his blood, she got so worried that she forgot everything else and dived down to get to him as fast as possible.

Seeing her brother in such a condition, her heart was broken. She knelt beside him. As he sensed her warm feathers, Cao Yun extended his arm as much as he could, which wasn't a lot, and grabbed with what little strength remained in him. Try as he might, he failed to get onto her back. So she opened her wing under his body and pushed him on her back. The very moment he was safely on her back, he lost all consciousness. Even in his sea of consciousness, there was no trace of Cao Yun. Thankfully, Dian Mo was still there, suppressing his seventh Turbid Demon. Once again, without Dian Mo, the Devouring Robber would have acted out and Cao Yun would have died right here and now.

Hongyu knew what to do. Before infiltrating the Holy Hongxue City, Cao Yun had not just set up array formations around the city. Indeed, he had also prepared a couple places for him to retreat to. Thus, Hongyu brought him to one of them, and she chose the farthest one just to be safe. Flying away, she looked back toward the black dome plunging the entire city into everlasting darkness. There was fire in her eyes. Those who had harmed her brother were in there. If she didn't have to make sure that Cao Yun was safe, she might have actually gone in there to fight them.

Even as a 7-core demonic beast, she would have had almost no chance of getting out of such a fight alive. Besides, she would also have suffered from Cao Yun's array formations, just like her opponents. So it was a good thing that she had to take care of him or she would have forfeited her life for nothing. But anger was still strong in her eyes. Getting stronger had also made her want to be more proactive.

Within the array formations, there was still utter chaos. The tongues of fire from the 'Fiery Torment of the Hellish Tree' array formation were striking randomly all over the place. Most of the city was either turned to ashes or literally on fire. Some pilgrims had found refuge within a few stone temples whose array formations were able to somewhat protect them to a degree. Without Cao Yun to focus it, the killing intent of the 'Bloody Soul Battlefield Disaster' array formation had spread everywhere. Thus it was less potent but it was affecting more people.

He Wushuang examined the spot from where Cao Yun had escaped. Even with his halberd, he couldn't pierce through it. The 'Fury of the Slain God' array formation outside of the city was completely blocking him. Considering Jin Bao's condition, He Wushuang was extremely careful. Right now, they all had to spare their strength to find a way to get out. This was their priority. After all, they had nothing else to do. But He Wushuang was furious. While Silver Wolf Marshal Shanyin Guan was trapped, he had utterly failed. Not only did their prey escape, he had also injured one of them...

Seeing that he couldn't do anything, He Wushuang flew back. He caught up with Xun Lieren. Although he was flying as fast as he could, Xun Lieren was carrying Jin Bao and had to avoid the tongues of fire from above. So he was using some broken houses as cover, flying through destroyed buildings.

Obviously, Xun Lieren could feel his superior's frustration.

"Do not worry, Brother. He cannot escape us."

"You...? Good! Do you think he'll be able to find them?"

He Wushuang was surprised for only an instant before remembering that Xun Lieren had indeed injured Cao Yun with one of his crescent blades. From then on, Cao Yun couldn't escape his tracking abilities. But this young man was very good. After all, he set up array formations even Lu Xiaoya didn't see through.

"He couldn't even use spiritual senses. And even if he fully recovers and finds them, getting rid of my seals should take him months if not years."

"Then let's assume that it would take him weeks."

"Brother...?!"

"Remember! He snuck into the Temple of Grace and Submission and set up all those array formations without Sister Lu detecting them. We should assume he's more capable than we can imagine. Let's not underestimate him."

"You... You're right."

It pained Xun Lieren to admit that because he had absolute confidence in his technique. But he had to concede this to He Wushuang. Xun Lieren's main martial art was 'Blood Trail Wolf Fang Art'. Among his techniques, he had used 'Blood-Scented Hunt'. By using his crescent blades, he could embed seals within someone's blood. Then, it would slowly penetrate one's body and literally leave a mark on their Golden Fate, the physical manifestation of one's prenatal Jing. So long as any trace of the seal remained in one's blood, it would reform on their Golden Fate. So one had to purge all their blood and only then could they work on that seal. Moreover, getting rid of this seal was already difficult enough, but doing so without damaging their Golden Fate was unfathomably hard. That being said, Xun Lieren knew that it wasn't impossible. Lu Xiaoya could do so in two to three months.

With that insurance, He Wushuang and Xun Lieren went back to the Temple of Grace and Submission to get orders from their Marshal.

-

At the temple, Silver Wolf Marshal Shanyin Guan was finally out. Around him, there was a powerful aura surrounding all of his generals. Seeing Zhai Tiesheng's back, he was extremely upset. All the images he had seen of the innocent demons tortured by the temple came back to him. His subordinate had suffered the same memories and his flesh had endured much more. If he had not vowed to defend the Empyrean Asura Theocracy, Marshal Shanyin Guan would have slaughtered all the priests himself. But he endured too.

Despite his pain, Zhai Tiesheng walked forward. He had indeed seen all those images and was ready to make the priests pay. There was incredible rage in his eyes. His 'Kshitigarbha's Unyielding Vow' was still active and the air around him turned hotter and hotter. As he walked close to them, the priests walked back. Only the old priest leading them stood his ground. But he did feel his blood begin to boil. Zhai Tiesheng was clearly about to crush him. With his strength, a single palm strike was enough to reduce him to a mist of red particles.

From above, Lu Xiaoya was watching Zhai Tiesheng's tortured back. There was also pain and anger in her eyes. But she didn't know why he was so furious against the priests. She wasn't used to seeing him like that. Only Marshal Shanyin Guan and Mo Qingsong knew the reason why. Both of them had also suffered through some of the visions within the Death Energy. Mo Qingsong hesitated but he didn't stop his brother-in-arms. However, Marshal Shanyin Guan steeled his resolve and his face. He stepped forward and put a hand on Zhai Tiesheng's shoulder. He could barely look him in the eyes. And he wasn't able to get the words out but Zhai Tiesheng understood.

Looking beyond his Marshal, he could see the old priest grinning with arrogance. Unable to control himself, he unleashed all of his strength and fury toward the temple. Suddenly, the old priest was overwhelmed with fear. He could see himself turned into nothing but blood.

Zhai Tiesheng's fist reached his target. But it wasn't the one he had initially hoped for. Obeying the unsaid orders of his Marshal, he had avoided the priests altogether and had struck the Temple of Grace and Submission itself. Without the 'Embrace of the Loving God' to protect it, several statues on the facade of the temple were reduced to smithereens. As usual, Zhai Tiesheng didn't say a word and walked away.

Marshal Shanyin Guan and Mo Qingsong didn't know what to say and were avoiding his eyes while staying away from the priests as well. In the air, Lu Xiaoya could tell that they were ashamed. She wasn't sure about the situation but she could tell that those priests clearly deserved death. Unfortunately, the Silver Wolf Marshal had vowed to protect the Empyrean Asura Theocracy. No matter what, he would never break a vow. So, as long as the Empyrean Asura abided by his words and kept the Langyin Region independent, Marshal Shanyin Guan would protect the priests of the Heavenly Demon God Faith. If he was in such a bind, it proved to Lu Xiaoya that those priests were indeed monsters.

Lu Xiaoya had come from another region where the Heavenly Demon God Faith had made many people suffer. Because her entire family didn't believe in any of that, they had fled and found refuge in the Langyin Region. That had happened when she was a kid. Since then, a few centuries had gone by. At that moment, the Heavenly Demon God Faith was weak and the Empyrean Asura wasn't even there yet. Since then, they had become worse and worse. Not a single general of the Six Fangs had any good impression of those fanatics. But they were bound by Silver Wolf Marshal Shanyin Guan's word as well. Breaking his vow would be akin to betraying him and they would never do such a thing.

At last, Xun Lieren and He Wushuang came back with Jin Bao. Lu Xiaoya turned her attention to the injured woman. Thankfully, Jin Bao's injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Rest along would be enough for her to fully recover. Thus Lu Xiaoya turned her attention back to Cao Yun's array formations.

"The Temple of Grace and Submission should be sturdy enough to protect us from those tongues of fire."

"Good, let's bring all the people in the city into the temple."

Hearing Marshal Shangyin Guan's orders, the old priest was about to protest. But even without being able to see his face, the old priest could see the Marshal's eyes. Instinctively, he understood that he had to shut up and obey. Protesting in silence, he went back in the temple, with the firm resolve of finding out what had happened to Holy Cardinal Ling Weisheng and Yu Xiangling. More importantly, he had to make sure that the Burning Blood was safe. Later, he would find that it was safe, but would fail to notice the poison introduced by Cao Yun. Lu Xiaoya might have been able to find it out but she had no chance to examine it. Moreover, she still might have stayed silent on the matter...

Mo Qingsong kowtowed to Marshal Shanyin Guan and his brother He Wushuang.

"This insubordinate one is ready for his just punishment."

"If you had come with us, we might have stopped that man! Sister Jin wouldn't have been injured! And look at brother Zhai's back! You...!"

He Wushuang was furious. Although he was admonishing Mo Qingsong, he barely raised his voice. But one could hear the contempt in it, as well as the pain. No matter what, He Wushuang shouldn't have failed. He couldn't accept this failure and he couldn't blame it all on Mo Qingsong's actions either. He had made the calls.

"Enough! We'll have enough time to deal with it. Right now, help the people in the city and then support your sister as much as you can. We have to break down those array formations right away. Then, we'll hunt that man, no matter who he is, no matter where he is."

-

Hongyu had brought Cao Yun into another cave dug into a small mountain. It had taken her less than a day with all of her speed. Even a late Accomplished Demon would require four to six days to get there from Holy Hongxue City. She put the young man in the center of the array formations he had set up. They were meant to help him recover. But it would take some time. After a day, Cao Yun had not yet regained an ounce of consciousness. Even Dian Mo was worried about him. In Cao Yun's sea of consciousness, the effects of the array formations were visible. From within, Dian Mo was trying to amplify them as much as he could.

Dian Mo knew that they were not safe. Even he failed to see the seals swimming in Cao Yun's blood. They had already left their mark on his Golden Fate...