Chapter 219: Master!

Chi Jiuxiao carried An Hao, darting through corridor after corridor, crossing over dozens of branching paths until they suddenly found themselves in a vast palace. Its dimensions were immeasurable, both wide and long, and the space was dimly lit by rows of stone pillars adorned with oil lamps. Most of the flames in the lamps had already gone out, leaving an eerie, flickering glow.

The moment they entered the hall, An Hao felt a cold wind wash over him, sending a shiver down his spine. Before he could gather his thoughts, a terrifying sense of danger surged from behind.

From the darkness, a dark-red ribbon shot toward them like a viper. It swiftly looped around them, then darted ahead, attempting to ensnare them in its deadly embrace.

Chi Jiuxiao, without hesitation, summoned the Dragon-Slaying Spear. With a forceful throw, the weapon let out a thunderous roar as a golden dragon materialized, illuminating the entire palace with its radiant light.

The golden dragon collided with the dark-red ribbon, creating a burst of powerful gales that swept through the palace, shaking its foundation.

An Hao felt as though he were being torn apart by the winds. Despite being held firmly by Chi Jiuxiao, the overwhelming force left him visibly pale and struggling.

Chi Jiuxiao leaped into the air, balancing momentarily on the Dragon-Slaying Spear before flipping over the crimson ribbon. Turning midair, he saw the ribbon stretch into the distant darkness, resembling a flowing river of blood with no end in sight.

As the pair steadied themselves, figures began to emerge from the shadows, surrounding them on all sides.

Qin Xun Yin descended gracefully from the darkness, landing less than ten feet from Chi Jiuxiao and An Hao. With a cruel smirk, he sneered, "Chi Jiuxiao, where else can you run?"

Chi Jiuxiao released An Hao and replied coldly, "You want to kill me? Fine, but let this kid go first."

"I…" An Hao was about to object when Chi Jiuxiao raised a hand to silence him.

Qin Xun Yin scoffed, his expression laced with disdain. "Do you think you're in any position to negotiate with me?"

As his words fell, another figure appeared beside him—a white-robed elder with a frigid expression, holding an exquisitely crafted jade lantern in his hands.

Chi Jiuxiao's gaze shifted subtly as he caught sight of movement behind him. His peripheral vision confirmed another Loose Immortal approaching from the shadows, effectively trapping them.

"Master…" An Hao muttered through gritted teeth, his voice filled with desperation.

Chi Jiuxiao caught the murmur and grinned wickedly. "An Hao, it seems your master can't hear your cries. Mine, on the other hand, is already on his way."

His remark caused a visible ripple of unease among the Seven Stars Spirit Realm cultivators.

The white-robed elder standing near Qin Xun Yin instinctively turned to glance over his shoulder.

"You dare harm my disciple without the consent of the Divine Soul True Monarch?"

A voice as icy as a winter gale echoed through the great hall. The sheer killing intent embedded in its tone sent a chill down everyone's spine, making them feel as though they had plunged into an icy abyss.

Chi Jiuxiao's face lit up with a haughty grin, his eyes locking onto Qin Xun Yin with a predatory glint. To him, the tables had turned.

The autumn wind rustled through the valley, carrying dry leaves into the air before gently setting them back down.

Gu An was sweeping the ground while the Blood Prison Saint followed curiously behind. "Master," the beast asked, "with so many disciples in the valley, why do you insist on sweeping the grounds yourself?"

The Third Medicine Valley was vast, and despite the presence of other disciples also engaged in the task, their numbers seemed sparse compared to the valley's size.

"Occasionally sweeping the ground is a good way to reconnect with the earth," Gu An replied nonchalantly, his tone casual. "You might even have an epiphany."

Though his response was offhanded, the Blood Prison Saint took it to heart, nodding thoughtfully before pacing around, earnestly feeling the ground beneath its feet.

Gu An's gaze drifted toward Mysterious Divine City in the distance. Within its towering walls, four Wandering Immortal had gathered. Two were from the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, one was Chi Jiuxiao's master, and the last was the Nine-Fingered Divine Lord.

The Nine-Fingered Divine Lord was actively exploring Mysterious Divine City with Chu Jingfeng, seeking its celestial spirit, while the other three Wandering Immortal were engaged in a chaotic battle.

Chi Jiuxiao's master had slain two Loose Immortals and over a dozen Seven Stars Spirit Realm disciples, drawing the ire of two additional Wandering Immortal.

The situation wasn't looking favorable; Chi Jiuxiao's master was beginning to falter under the combined pressure.

Gu An showed no urgency to intervene, choosing instead to finish sweeping his section of the valley. "He can fight a little longer," he murmured to himself.

Moments later, his gaze shifted westward.

Another Wandering Immortal had arrived.

"Well, things just got livelier," Gu An remarked internally, though his heart grew heavy with unease.

The increasing influx of celestial beings into this realm threatened to plunge the Three Dynasties' cultivation world into a catastrophic upheaval. He could only hope the situation would resolve itself quickly.

Within one of Mysterious Divine City 's micro-worlds, a violent sandstorm raged, its golden grains obscuring the sky as fierce winds howled without mercy.

Amid the endless desert, An Hao stood protectively in front of Chi Jiuxiao, a faint golden glow emanating around him to shield them from the relentless storm.

Chi Jiuxiao was seated cross-legged, focusing on healing his injuries. His gaze, however, was locked on the horizon where distant thunderous roars echoed. Waves of heat, flashes of golden flames, and dazzling arcs of spiritual light surged endlessly.

This was a battle between Wandering Immortal, a spectacle of unparalleled might and destruction.

An Hao couldn't even catch a glimpse of the three Wandering Immortal locked in combat. Despite the protection offered by the array, his body felt as though it could disintegrate at any moment. The oppressive sensation was unbearable.

Chi Jiuxiao, however, could faintly perceive the clash. The sight left his expression increasingly grim.

The master he revered so deeply was at a clear disadvantage.

Despair began to creep into his heart.

This time, he had not only doomed himself but also dragged An Hao and his master into the fray. The weight of guilt made his fists clench tightly.

"Damn it…" Chi Jiuxiao cursed, for the first time truly understanding the power of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Previously, his activities had been confined to areas controlled by the Star Sea Sect Alliance. Even when encountering Seven Stars cultivators, he rarely suffered losses. Now that he was on their territory, he realized it wasn't him they feared but the authority of the Star Sea Sect Alliance.

An Hao turned back, his voice laced with tension. "Senior, how's the battle going now?"

Chi Jiuxiao stayed silent, his eyes locked ahead. His face was dark, his expression almost dripping with unease. An Hao saw this and grew even more anxious.

"Chi Bei, today your disciple must die! If you insist on joining him in life and death, then prepare for your own demise!" A voice brimming with authority boomed across the desert. A haunting melody began to play, its vibrations making An Hao dizzy as everything around him started to sway.

Chi Jiuxiao took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

"Senior, what are you planning to do?" An Hao asked, frowning in confusion.

Chi Jiuxiao didn't answer. Instead, he raised his voice and declared, "I take full responsibility for my actions. This matter began with me—spare my master, and I am willing to atone with my life!"

"Hmph, this isn't your place to speak!" an aged, irritable voice responded.

"Master, I…"

"Silence!"

The roar that followed shook the sands, and streaks of black lightning surged from the horizon, ripping the sky as though it were splitting apart.

The battle intensified.

The protective formation shielding An Hao and Chi Jiuxiao trembled violently. An Hao staggered, his heart racing as he nervously looked ahead. Through the swirling sand, he spotted a figure approaching.

"Swallowing Immortal Scorpion! How utterly despicable! Is this what the Seven Stars Spirit Realm calls righteousness?" the aged voice roared with fury.

"Hmph, righteousness, demonic ways—does your Star Sea Sect Alliance really understand the difference?" another voice replied, filled with scorn.

Chi Jiuxiao panicked, shouting desperately, "Let my master go! I'm willing to die in his place!"

His gaze involuntarily shifted to the figure emerging from the sandstorm.

As the silhouette stepped out of the swirling sands, its true form was revealed—a man in a flowing purple robe, his long white hair framing a youthful face. His eyes were sharp and venomous, exuding a chilling, serpentine aura.

The purple-robed man locked eyes with Chi Jiuxiao and said coldly, "It doesn't matter whether you're willing or not. You will die. And so will your master."

"You—!"

Chi Jiuxiao's fury ignited, his heart burning with the urge to confront the man in a life-or-death battle. Yet reason restrained him—he was no match for this opponent. Rushing out would only result in his swift death and further distract his master.

A deafening crash echoed behind the purple-robed man. The rolling yellow sands were abruptly parted as a bloodied, tattered elder riding on a golden ring charged forward. Before he could reach his foe, however, an enormous scorpion claw swept in from the side, clamping onto the elder and dragging him back into the sandstorm.

"Master!" Chi Jiuxiao's voice cracked as he screamed, anguish ripping through him.

The purple-robed man raised his right hand, a sinister white flame flickering to life in his palm. His lips twisted into a mocking smile as he slowly advanced toward the formation.

Behind him, the wind and sand churned violently, and the waves of spiritual power surged like a school of leaping dragons, a spectacle both magnificent and terrifying.

"Relax and wait for death. It won't be long before your master joins you." The purple-robed man's icy voice dripped with malice as he approached within ten steps of the formation.

His deliberate slowness wasn't due to hesitation; he was savoring the moment, intending to break Chi Jiuxiao and An Hao's spirits while also distracting Chi Bei.

An Hao watched the man's approach, his mind involuntarily flashing back to the scene of Xuan Tianyi being restrained by a mysterious cultivator. Just like then, he felt utterly powerless, his insignificance gnawing at him with bitter regret.

Clenching his fists tightly, An Hao closed his eyes and shouted with all his might, "Master!"

His desperate cry echoed throughout the micro-world.

"Master? What? You have a master too? Does your master even—"

The purple-robed man's sneer froze mid-sentence as a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder, halting him in his tracks.

Chi Jiuxiao's pupils widened in shock as he stared at the figure standing behind the purple-robed man.

The purple-robed man instinctively tried to activate his divine powers to escape, but his face twisted in terror as he realized his spiritual energy was completely frozen. He struggled to draw upon his physical strength, but the hand on his shoulder felt heavier than a mountain, pinning him down no matter how hard he fought.

"You were saying—do I have the cultivation level of the Mahayana Realm?"

A calm, detached voice came from behind the purple-robed man. An Hao's eyes flew open at the sound, his gaze locking on the scene beyond the formation.

His face lit up with relief, his voice trembling with emotion. "Master! You're finally here!"

It was Gu An, his form shrouded in the power of the Nine Extremes Yin-Yang Body. Ignoring An Hao, Gu An stood to the side, his left hand resting casually on the purple-robed man's shoulder. Despite his relaxed posture, the pressure he exerted left his opponent immobile.

"Who… Who are you?" a quivering voice asked, filled with fear.

Before the question could be answered, another figure materialized behind Gu An—a man in luxurious red robes wielding a short sword. The newcomer lunged forward, aiming directly for Gu An's back.

Gu An disappeared before the attack could land, causing the red-robed man to miss entirely. As the assailant turned to regain his footing, a tremendous force struck his back. His body hit the sand with a heavy thud, and a boot planted firmly on his spine drove him further into the ground.

Gu An stood above them both, his left hand still pinning the purple-robed man while his right foot pressed down on the red-robed man's back.

With his effortless dominance, Gu An held two Wandering Immortal in check, radiating a power that shook the heavens.

The battlefield grew silent, the air heavy with awe and dread as Gu An's calm voice cut through the stillness.

The tide had turned.