Chapter 370: Paying the Price

In the Heaven One Sect, disciples everywhere looked up and saw a tall white figure appear in the void; silver hair fluttered in the wind, the man's handsome, cold face showed no emotion, yet it sent a chill down people's spines.

A terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire Heaven One Sect.

The sect master of Heaven One Sect and the Supreme Elders who were in seclusion fled out in fright.

"Who dares to act brazenly in my Heaven One Sect?!"

The sect master finished speaking, then saw the face of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord; his eyes jolted, his complexion changed repeatedly in an instant!

"Thousand… Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord!"

At this moment, everyone of the Heaven One Sect also realized the identity of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, and were utterly shocked in their hearts?

The Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord said calmly, "Xu Yan Zhi, come out."

The sect master forced himself to ask, "Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, what urgent matter do you have with the Formless Immortal Venerable?"

The Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord gave him a casual glance.

The sect master felt a chill run through his body, as if falling into an ice cellar.

The Supreme Elders, having witnessed the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's might before, now cowered like turtles, daring not to speak.

Fearing to become the bird that sticks its head out and be ruthlessly crushed by the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, they dreaded losing face.

They exchanged glances, their eyes seeming to ask: "Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, your arrival is stormy; surely something major has happened, and it must involve the Formless Immortal Venerable!"

The Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, apparently losing patience, locked onto a hall and swung his sword in a single slash!

At that moment, the Formless Immortal Venerable's figure flashed out, a sword swing deflecting the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord's attack.

A tremendous roar echoed in mid‑air, followed by two bursts of sword qi that swept the entire Heaven One Sect; gale winds rose, forcing many disciples to quickly form spiritual shields to block.

The Formless Immortal Venerable, handsome in appearance, knit his sword‑shaped brows in displeasure and said, "Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, are you sure you wish to oppose me?"

The Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord replied coldly, "It is you who chooses to be my enemy. You have harmed my disciples; you must pay the price."

The sect master and others, hearing their exchange, were instantly terrified, staring at the two in disbelief.

Before they could react, a rift tore open in the void; the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord and the Formless Immortal Venerable slipped into it, and the sky abruptly darkened as black clouds pressed down on the city, threatening to crush it.

Rumble—

Lightning flashed and thunder roared, making hearts race.

This phenomenon instantly drew the attention of many forces on the First Continent.

…

Meanwhile.

Within the Heaven Snow Mountain Range.

The Second Elder and Seventh Elder of Heaven One Sect exchanged a glance and decided to lead their disciples to flee quickly.

They no longer dared to contest the treasures, deeming escape the priority.

Lu Xiangxiang clenched her fists tightly; seeing the Heaven One Sect members fleeing in disarray, her face turned sour, and she gritted her teeth, glaring resentfully toward Yuan Yao and her companions.

She then quickly caught up with the Heaven One Sect's group.

Bian Chen pursed his lips, intending to step forward and say to Yuan Yao, "Happy birthday."

Ultimately, he did not speak, his expression forlorn as he chose to leave.

Nie Bai also knew that today he certainly would not obtain the Heavenly Pride Token; his face tightened slightly as he stepped toward Yuan Yao and her group.

Hua Chengyan also led the Hua Sect's troops toward Yuan Yao and the others.

At this moment, Yuan Yao, having taken an eighth‑grade Healing Wound Pill and receiving treatment infused with her master's true qi, had already recovered half her strength.

She stepped down from Xiao Lingwei's arms.

Then she sensed someone's gaze, pretended not to notice, and looked up, meeting the eyes of the ghost‑faced youth in the distance.

Xie Yan, after confirming she was unharmed, turned and walked away.

Meanwhile, Xie Yan's voice rang in her sea of perception.

"Yuan Yao, I have something to tell you in person. I will wait for you in that mountain cave."

Before Yuan Yao could respond, the ghost‑faced youth vanished into the wind and snow.

She thought to herself: What words must be spoken face‑to‑face?

Yuan Yao withdrew her gaze, glanced again at the fleeing Heaven One Sect members, and let out a cold snort.

She then began bandaging the wounds of her senior brothers and sisters.

Cang Li was the most severely injured.

Next were Xue Jin and Ying Wuji.

Seeing the gruesome wounds on them, Yuan Yao couldn't help but frown.

"These injuries are nothing," Xue Jin said, seeing her sour expression, and spoke.

Yuan Yao bit her lip, "Do you always get injured whenever you go out for training?"

"We get a few injuries," Xiao Lingwei laughed, "If we never got hurt, there would be no challenge, and wouldn't we then be the strongest beings in this world?"

Song Yan also gave a gentle smile.

Cang Li's face turned ashen, his lips dry, and he weakly shouted, "Ouch, I'm both sore and cold, who can hug me? Who can help ease the pain?"

Hearing this, Yuan Yao took a plush blanket from the supplies she had prepared in Snow City and draped it over Cang Li.

Cang Li curled himself into the blanket.

When he moved, the fractured bone hurt again.

He then fed himself a sixth‑grade Healing Muscle and Bone Pill.

Yuan Yao also took a cloak from the storage and draped it over Xiao Lingwei.

Immediately after, she placed the Great Sun Burning Heaven Mirror on the snowfield, letting it continuously emit small flames.

"Still cold?" Yuan Yao asked, looking at them.

Ying Wuji: "Not cold anymore."

Cang Li: "Cold."

The two spoke almost simultaneously.

Xiao Lingwei said irritably to him, "If you're cold, sit closer."

"I can't move, Second Senior Sister." Cang Li curled up in the blanket, only a pair of eyes visible, and said plaintively, "If I move, the bones in my body hurt terribly."

He has now almost exhausted the spiritual energy within his body, so he cannot use it to ward off the surrounding cold, and thus feels extremely cold.

Yuan Yao, hearing this, controlled the Great Sun Burning Heaven Mirror to make the flames burn larger; in an instant, the fire leapt as high as an adult, and the temperature rose sharply.

The surrounding snow began to melt.

Xiao Lingwei seemed to sense something and quickly stood up.

Song Yan, Xue Jin, and Ying Wuji also stood up.

Cang Li let out a light hiss, "Huh, why do I feel my backside a bit chilly?"

He reached down to feel.

It's wet.

He instantly realized something, his gaze lingering on Yuan Yao with a plaintive look.

"Yuan Yao, did you do that on purpose?"

"No."

"You'd better not have, quickly help me up."

While Yuan Yao was helping Cang Li up, Nie Bai had already walked over.

The few of them glanced at Nie Bai with wary eyes.

Nie Bai sighed, "Don't worry, I won't compete with you for the treasure, especially since I can't win anyway. I just wanted to tell Miss Yuan a happy birthday."

Yuan Yao was slightly stunned, and replied, "Thank you."

Nie Bai's lips curled slightly, regaining his carefree, unrestrained demeanor, and he chuckled, "In a little over a year, the Cultivation World's Grand Sect Competition will begin; by then, we will certainly meet again."