Chapter 145: Ah?

The Heavenly Ridge Mountain is in turmoil, likely traces of a fourth-level demon beast, a Golden Core traitor has appeared within the Spirit Beast Sect, the Seven Demonic Sects have launched a total attack—hurry, go east, stay away from the Ten Domains, never return!

This is the message transmitted by Huaxin, very simple, yet it concisely and clearly explains the cause of this beast tide!

After reading it, Yunhe fell silent.

It's obvious that he could sense something was off; Huaxin and these Golden Core cultivators from the various sects couldn't possibly have missed the clues.

The appearance of a fourth-level demon beast capable of rivaling a Yuan Ying cultivator destroyed, like tearing through rotten wood, the balance maintained between the demon beasts and the various sects within the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

If it were just that, it would actually be fine.

After all, a fourth-level demon beast couldn't directly intervene; even if the beast tide erupted, there would be ample time for the sect cultivators to react, whether to hold their ground or retreat, they could still make it.

The most critical issue, however, is that a traitor has appeared within the Spirit Beast Sect!

Moreover, it's a traitor who has reached the Golden Core realm!

Or perhaps the other party was originally a pawn planted long ago by the Demonic Sect.

During the period when that Golden Core cultivator of the Spirit Beast Sect was responsible for guarding the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

The beast tide erupted.

Using the Spirit Beast Domain as a breakthrough point, it instantly caught the Spirit Beast Sect off guard.

Like a collapsing dam, it swiftly swept across multiple regions.

In fact, it's not only the Spirit Beast Sect that has traitors; each sect also has some pawns planted by the Demonic Sect to varying degrees.

Most of them were rooted out by the various sects.

But some still managed to survive by luck.

But who would have thought that a Supreme Elder of the Spirit Beast Sect, a Golden Core cultivator, would actually be a traitor?

At the same time.

At the moment the beast tide erupted, the Demonic Path cultivators who had lain dormant for a long time also launched their offensive simultaneously.

Taking the Union Domain at the tail of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range and the Mysterious Sword Domain at its head as two major breakthrough points, they frenziedly launched attacks on the surrounding domains and several sects.

Caught in a pincer attack, with sufficient suddenness, many sects were unable to react in time.

And the Qingyu Domain, sandwiched between the Union Domain and the Spirit Beast Domain, naturally became one of the first sects to fall.

To be frank.

The combined strength of the Ten Domains and Nine Sects is absolutely not weaker than that of the Seven Demonic Sects, and may even be slightly stronger.

But there is one aspect in which the Ten Domains and Nine Sects fall far short of the Seven Demonic Sects.

That is advance preparation.

As the defending side, the Ten Domains and Nine Sects are in a passive defensive posture.

As the attacking side, it's clear from the arrangements of the Seven Demonic Sects that they have been planning this for nearly a hundred years!

A hundred years of plotting.

Such a advantage cannot be erased by a mere slight superiority in strength.

Finally, the Demonic Sect, unbeknownst to anyone, had reached some agreement with the demon beasts in the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range; with the outbreak of the beast tide, it became a massive stone that completely crushed the Nine Sects' defenses.

Under the rolling of that massive stone,

the various sects didn't even have time to mount an effective resistance, and could only choose to flee in disarray.

Sometimes, even the sturdiest dam only needs a small crack, followed by a greater impact, to cause the entire dam to collapse.

Yunhe couldn't help but think of the Blood Rite, and of the Wang Clan's forefather, Wang Pei.

From this it can be seen that the Blood Rite's choice of the Wang Clan's forefather as its target was truly not random.

Located to the northwest of the Qingyu Domain, near both the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range and the Spirit Beast Domain, the River Gully Market is very likely the point where the Demonic Sect broke open a gap in the sects' defenses.

However, these are no longer important to him now.

Run?

Where to?

Fleeing eastward, Yunhe could still faintly hear the roars of demon beasts coming from behind.

At this moment, his heart felt somewhat lost.

To be frank, he has spent many years in this world, most of that time staying in the Qingzong Sect; to say he has no feelings would be false.

But to say his feelings are deep would also be an overstatement.

He achieved Foundation Establishment entirely on his own, and after that, only Huaxin gave him considerable help; with the other cultivators in the sect, he truly had little connection or entanglement.

The Qingzong Sect treated him fairly well, but he also completed the series of tasks assigned by the sect quite satisfactorily.

This departure means he will once again go from being a sect cultivator to becoming a rogue cultivator.

Having experienced the benefits the sect brings, he still feels somewhat reluctant about it.

But he also knows very well that the Qingzong Sect is unlikely to be returned to.

The Qingzong Sect will not be destroyed just because of this.

Even the various sects of the Ten Domains and Nine Sects cannot possibly be destroyed because of this.

Although the Seven Demonic Sects and the beast tide caught them off guard, the accumulated heritage of the Nine Sects over hundreds or thousands of years is no joke; it cannot be completely crushed just like that.

Once this event is completely over, the Qingzong Sect, whether it changes location or recovers lost territory, will inevitably have to rebuild the sect.

At that time.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator who survived the sect, and moreover a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yunhe inevitably bears more responsibilities.

The time he can devote to peaceful cultivation will inevitably be greatly reduced.

This is neither what he hopes to see nor what he hopes to experience.

Perhaps this is why many sects prefer to train disciples from scratch rather than recruit rogue cultivators midway.

And once Yunhe leaves the Qingzong Sect this time, it will likely be difficult for him to join another sect thereafter.

Recruiting Qi Refining rogue cultivators as menial disciples is barely acceptable.

But recruiting scattered cultivators who have already reached Foundation Establishment is something most sects cannot do.

What's more, after a Golden Core traitor appeared in the Spirit Beast Sect.

Who knows if Yunhe is a spy of the Demonic Sect?

That is to say.

From this moment on, he is destined to become a rogue cultivator again.

The only thing worth celebrating.

Probably the habit he developed while being a rogue cultivator in River Stream Market.

After finishing cultivation, he stores the items in his cave dwelling into his storage bag.

Although he didn't bring everything this time, the main things such as the Crimson-ring Gold-spotted Bee and gu worms are still on him, and the remaining losses are insignificant to him.

'First find a place to settle down, then observe the situation and make a decision.'

He thought of the ultra-long-distance teleportation array in the Gobi Beach Corpse Fall Land.

This is his last retreat.

But to be honest.

He is not clear about what the 'Cloud Upper Realm' mentioned by Senior Yun Ming actually is.

Therefore, he will not use the ultra-long-distance teleportation array unless absolutely necessary.

He would rather leave the Ten Domains region and head east.

It is said that to the east there are several sects much larger than the Qingzong Sect, occupying territories no smaller than the Ten Domains.

Even farther east, there is an endless Misty Sea, whose resources far exceed those of the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

While Yunhe was fleeing and pondering his future path, he felt a sweep of divine sense over him.

He looked in the direction from which the divine sense came.

He couldn't help but frown.

Spirit Beast Sect, Xu Liang.

The two had left the Return to Origin Sect at the same time and were both heading east, so running into each other is not surprising.

'Fellow Daoist Yun, the mix-up last night was Xu's fault. Now facing the beast tide, we cultivators of the nine sects should help each other and overcome the difficulty together,' Xu Liang sent via voice transmission.

Yunhe does not want to deal with this person.

Although the other party made him quite displeased last night, even somewhat angry, the current situation does not allow him to waste too much time here; if he gets caught in the beast tide, his life could be in danger.

To act on a moment's anger and put himself in danger is very unwise.

But Yunhe does not want to deal with this person, while Xu Liang actively approached him.

'Fellow Daoist Yun, Xu.'

Xu Liang still wanted to say something, but his voice cut off abruptly.

Because when he approached within a certain distance of Yunhe, Yunhe actually struck out without hesitation!

Xu Liang was filled with astonishment in his heart.

Although he indeed came with a purpose, even deliberately disgusting Yunhe last night was done intentionally by him.

Xu Liang is not a disciple of the Golden Core Elder Xiao Shanhe of the Spirit Beast Sect, but he is one of the few Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Spirit Beast Sect who knows that Xiao Shanhe has taken a liking to Yunhe.

Therefore, upon learning yesterday that the one representing the Qingzong Sect who came to offer condolences was Yunhe, he immediately sent a message to Xiao Shanhe.

And Xiao Shanhe's reply was also very simple.

Hold him back, he will come himself!

Therefore, Xu Liang provoked Yunhe, trying to make Yunhe bear a grudge, so as to buy time.

As long as Xiao Shanhe deals with Yunhe, he could be accepted as a disciple by Xiao Shanhe as an exception.

But man's plans cannot match heaven's.

The sudden outbreak of the beast tide rendered the original plan moot.

But just now, Xu Liang received another order from Xiao Shanhe.

Detain Yunhe, he will arrive shortly!

Therefore, Xu Liang approached with a grim face.

Who would have thought that just as he wanted to exchange a few pleasantries, Yunhe directly attacked, with no intention of communication at all!

Five swords of five colors, their blades gleaming sharply and mixed with a ferocious aura, shot toward him.

However, since he approached with a purpose, Xu Liang still made some preparations.

He hurriedly patted his storage bag and produced a small diamond-shaped shield.

He clearly knew he was no match for Yunhe, but he didn't need to defeat Yunhe; just buying time would suffice.

Xiao Shanhe came together with a group of cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect; he is nearby and will arrive soon.

"Hmph!"

Yunhe let out a cold snort, and the arm he swung clenched into a fist.

He didn't want to waste time, but since the other party came to him voluntarily, there was nothing to hesitate about.

As for cultivators of the Spirit Beast Sect, he has always had a very bad impression of them.

The five swords of various colors shot from the five directions quickly converged from those directions and simultaneously slashed at Xu Liang.

Seeing this, Xu Liang's expression turned solemn; he hurriedly infused mana into the diamond-shaped shield, which rapidly expanded, preparing to block the flying swords.

But as Yunhe clenched his fist, the five flying swords merged into one in midair.

Five Elements Sword Technique!

Boom!!

A dull thud sounded, and on the shield in front of Xu Liang, cracks actually appeared.

Xu Liang was shocked beyond measure.

What kind of sorcery is this?!

His medium-grade defensive spiritual artifact could only block it once?

Whoosh—

At the same time.

The sound of breaking the sky echoed through heaven and earth.

In his field of view, a tiny black dot rapidly approached, and in the blink of an eye it had already grown to the size of a fist.

"Golden Core cultivator!"

Yunhe's heart jolted; the opponent's escape speed was too fast for a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Right now, the opponent is still seventy or eighty li away; it is estimated that in just a few breaths they will arrive.

"Could it be Xu Liang's elder?"

He narrowed his eyes and vaguely recognized the incoming person.

Spirit Beast Sect, Xiao Shanhe!

"Elder Xiao has arrived, fellow cultivators, prepare to die." Xu Liang let out a sigh of relief, as if he had taken a calming pill, victory was in his grasp.

But at this moment, Yunhe's heart instead calmed down.

He even revealed a smile full of mockery.

If it were another cultivator, he might indeed have feared the might of a Golden Core and halted, but since it is Xiao Shanhe.

He not only understood Xu Liang's actions.

He also understood that no matter what Xu Liang did next, the outcome would be the same.

The next second.

He pushed off hard with his foot, and five-colored light blossomed on his body.

Five Elements Escape Technique!

His figure became elusive.

When he reappeared, he was actually behind Xu Liang!

This filled Xu Liang with utter terror.

What incredible speed!

How is this possible?

But when he prepared to resist, Yunhe unhesitatingly closed in.

Now Yunhe's physical body could rival an early-stage second‑level demonic beast; being struck by such a physique, not to mention Xu Liang merely a mid‑Foundation Establishment cultivator, even a late‑Foundation Establishment one could not stop him!

With his physical speed plus the Five Elements Escape Technique, Yunhe's maneuvering speed over short distances far surpasses that of most Foundation Establishment cultivators.

One punch shattered Xu Liang's hand reaching for his storage bag, and the other hand seized his neck.

"No, don't! Elder Xiao, save me!"

Xu Liang instantly lost the ability to resist; the terror in his heart became unbearable, and he shouted hoarsely.

"Die!"

In response, all he got was Yunhe's utterly plain single word.

Xu Liang was utterly despairing.

At this moment he felt extreme regret: why had he provoked an opponent he could not handle, just for someone else?

"Junior, stop!"

At the same moment, Xiao Shanhe's voice exploded beside their ears.

Hope flared once again in Xu Liang's eyes.

"Crack!"

But the next instant.

The crisp sound of his neck being twisted broke, and his expression instantly went blank.

Yunhe brutally twisted off his entire head and casually tossed it aside.

He looked toward Xiao Shanhe, who was rapidly fleeing.

He revealed an innocent expression:

"Huh?"

(End of chapter)