Chapter 358: Stinking Fish and Rotten Shrimp (Serious Reminder: This is a cliffhanger; if you mind)

Dragon Tooth Mountain.

It was the most secret route for the Xu family to reach Great Qian.

It was now deep night.

Yet this place was illuminated as if it were broad daylight.

Twelve Golden Body Dharma Images hung in the sky, like brilliant suns; their expressions were grim and deadly, staring fixedly at the opposite side.

Whenever someone exhausted their strength, another Yin Spirit would immediately take their place.

Master Zhu Jue stood weakly at the very front.

He was the guardian of the Martial Arsenal and had not left the Imperial City for thousands of years.

Yet he was also the only one who had exchanged blows with the opposite side.

Though bearing grave injuries, he felt not the slightest regret.

The Xu family had been invited by Yan Shidi Shen; Master Zhu Jue had to act. Even if it were a futile effort, he must let the Xu family know Great Qian's stance.

"Daoist Miao, do you see?"

A black robe fluttered loudly in the air; the white-bearded old man smiled as he looked to the side: "These are our allies, showing us this pile of scrap metal with the posture of a desperate gamble."

At his side stood a figure that was slightly petite.

She was not stunning enough to topple nations, but she was quite well-behaved; yet paired with the cold expression on her face, it made everyone extinguish that tiny bit of underestimation in their hearts.

Miao Qinghui also stood on green clouds.

She did not speak.

But from her position, her stance could not have been clearer.

In the view of Mount Wutong, setting aside closeness or distance for now, Great Qian's actions were indeed somewhat improper.

The grudge between the Xu family and the Xuan Guang Cave was not formed in recent years.

To say Great Qian knew nothing of it would be too absurd.

This behavior, which clearly violated the alliance, was not only done by the Wumiao, but they had not even informed anyone beforehand.

Who is the villain between the Xuan Guang Cave and the Xu family, any clear-eyed person knows.

But an alliance is an alliance.

Since it was established, matters must be handled according to the rules.

"In my opinion, this is a critical moment."

Miao Qinghui finally took a step: "Do not start internal strife; let each side take a step back. We need not concern ourselves with the Xuan Guang Cave's private grudge. Afterwards, the Xuan Guang Cave must not use this as an excuse to seek trouble for Great Qian."

"What do you all think?"

Miao Qinghui swept her gaze over the crowd.

The black-robed old man chuckled lightly: "I am not one who ignores the big picture either; there is no need for Great Qian to apologize. Giving Daoist Miao a favor, let us end it here."

Below the crowd.

A solid flowing-light formation completely enveloped the Xu family members.

The young people stared anxiously at the sky.

They had never experienced a situation like this, where they were like fish on a cutting board, at the mercy of others.

The figures in the sky were like immortals and gods.

With golden mouths and jade orders, they held their lives and deaths in their hands.

At the very front of the crowd.

Xu Hongde gripped his fist tightly, as if trying to crush his finger bones.

As the clan head of the Xu family, he had never made any wrong judgment; he never expected that a single mistake would require such a heavy price.

"What are you in a hurry for?"

The old woman's face was indifferent: "If it truly cannot be done, we must still exchange a few of them."

No one can be without error forever.

Since we have reached this situation, we must face it calmly.

Having said that, she turned her head to look at that group of young people: "The Xu family has experienced such a thing once before; do not worry too much. When the formation breaks, each flee for their life; leaving a thread of hope, thousands of years later... the Xu family will still be the Xu family."

The other clan elders bitterly smiled one after another.

This old woman was clearly the one feeling the most self-blame, yet she still stood out to comfort others.

"What are you looking at?"

The old woman glanced at the few of them and raised her eyes again.

She had never misjudged a person in her life.

But until this moment, the youth who had taken her gift had still not appeared.

Thinking of this, she smiled helplessly.

Even if he could not act, there was no need to deliberately hide from us.

Under the gaze of the Xu family members.

Master Zhu Jue rode the Yaksha Golden Body and soared into the air again.

He looked at Miao Qinghui and respectfully cupped his hands, saying: "Thank you, Senior Miao, for your understanding. However, our Wumiao no longer wishes to trade allies for Great Qian's peace."

His words were sincere, yet carried a firmness that allowed no room for negotiation.

Upon hearing this.

The faces of the Xu family members all changed.

The old woman shook her head with a smile: "At least it is a case where the task cannot be accomplished, rather than the sordidness you all discussed; this can also be considered good news."

"If we had formed an alliance in advance back then, perhaps we would not have had to hide for so many years."

The other clan elders also became much more composed.

One by one, array discs slipped silently into their palms.

Xu Hongde's eyes likewise brimmed with killing intent, ready for one final struggle.

"…"

Miao Qinghui stood in the midst of the scene, calmly watching Zhu Jue.

Then a faint, gentle smile touched her lips: "I understand, but you cannot protect them. As he said, your Golden Body remnants mean nothing to him at all."

"Then what is your elder's meaning?" Zhu Jue slowly unclenched his palms.

"You wouldn't seriously ask my Mount Wutong disciples to aid outsiders against the Xuan Guang Cave, would you? That's going too far."

Miao Qinghui showed rare patience.

She shook her head: "If your strength is insufficient, endure for now."

Zhu Jue smiled sharply, drew a deep breath: "Sorry. I can't endure."

At this, the dark-robed cultivator finally cracked a grin: "Do you even have the right to refuse? With your pile of rusted iron? What can you possibly do?"

"Kill you."

Hearing this calm reply, the dark-robed cultivator froze for a moment—only to find Zhu Jue beside him also momentarily stunned.

The voice echoed across the heavens.

Along with the voice descended a towering, dark-golden spiritual form.

Its eighteen-zhang height radiated dense luminescence, majestic and noble, as if a god or Buddha had descended.

It stood before the twelve Golden Body spiritual forms.

Instantly, it drew everyone's attention.

And after a brief shock,

they all turned their gazes toward the shoulder of the Golden Body spiritual form.

A magnificent black robe fluttered gently, its golden patterns lifelike; on it stood a young man with Bai Xi's handsome, serene face, utterly expressionless.

He stood with hands hanging at his sides, silently observing the Xuan Guang Cave sect members.

After a moment, his thin lips parted: "Rotten fish and spoiled shrimp."

His words carried no provocation, as calm as stating a fact.

Upon hearing this, let alone the others,

even Miao Qinghui's expression shifted slightly.

If she remembered correctly, she and Yi Daohong were cultivators of the same level.

"You!"

Yi Daohong furiously swept his dark sleeve—since putting on this robe, no one had ever spoken to him like this.

When had the Great Qian produced a Golden Body spiritual form eighteen zhang tall?

Moreover, this cultivator of the same realm said nothing—yet his junior on the shoulder spoke first.

"Now, you finally have the right to take the Xu family away."

Miao Qinghui stared at the Golden Body, her astonishment still far from fading.

It wasn't fear of his cultivation level.

She was merely surprised that the Great Qian had quietly revived itself again.

Mount Wutong had received not a single whisper of it.

Hearing this, Zhu Jue's face lit up with delight—he had never imagined the matter would resolve so easily.

But the next moment, someone doused him with cold water: "Wait—I feel this isn't over…"

Wu Dao'an landed beside Zhu Jue with A Qing and Xu Wanyun, his unease growing more agitated—he had never heard Master Shen say such words.

All other Golden Body and Yin Spirit cultivators fell into stunned silence.

They had indeed been waiting… and the one who arrived was indeed Master Shen—but this Golden Body seemed… off?!

They spent every day in the Wumiao; they had never heard the Great Qian had a Soul Transformation late-stage Golden Body cultivator.

"Elder, are we alive?"

After a brief shock, the young Xu family members suddenly burst into excitement.

"I… I don't know."

The old woman, abandoning her earlier calm, stared at the young man atop the Golden Body, suddenly unsure of his intentions.

Before all eyes,

Shen Yi finally rose several zhang into the air, tore his gaze from the Xuan Guang Cave group, and said casually:

"Kill them."

(End of Chapter)