Chapter 108

"Leaving Tiannan to head for Jixi Zhi Di is indeed a good choice. After all, your current situation is truly no longer suitable for staying in the sect or the Tiannan Cultivation World."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect fell silent for a moment, then nodded her head slightly, signifying her approval of Yan Taibai's plan.

"Many thanks, Martial Aunt."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly expressed his thanks.

In this situation, one is easily branded a "deserter"; if it were any other disciple, the punishment would be light, but the heavy penalty would be having their soul extracted and spirit refined.

But he was rather special; in a certain sense, he was already considered a "dead man."

"Wait a few days. I will find someone who has some understanding of Jixi Zhi Di."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect said another sentence that surprised Yan Taibai.

"It is also a good chance to see Wan'er again. You are leaving this time; I do not know when you will be able to return. You two should stay for a few days!"

"Yes, this disciple understands. Many thanks, Great Martial Aunt."

Yan Taibai hurriedly thanked her respectfully.

In his heart, he wondered if the person the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect spoke of might be the "Senior Brother Lin" from Huangfeng Valley.

"Qiong Laoguai, trouble yourself to make a trip to Huangfeng Valley and ask that Lin Daoyou about the situation in Jixi Zhi Di."

Just as Yan Taibai was wondering if it was him, the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect had already told him.

It really was him.

Hearing this, Yan Taibai confirmed the guess in his heart.

And Qiong Laoguai also nodded in agreement.

"This younger brother will obey, but may we wait a few more days? I always feel that the Ghost Spirit Sect still has other methods and will not let what just happened pass so easily."

The worry in Qiong Laoguai's heart did not vanish in the slightest even after returning to the Masked Moon Sect; instead, it grew increasingly severe.

It was as if a great disaster could befall them at any moment.

A cultivator's spiritual intuition is often quite accurate.

"Very well, as long as Taibai is not in a hurry to leave."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect knitted her brows slightly and agreed.

"Many thanks, Great Martial Sister."

Hearing this, Qiong Laoguai finally felt at ease.

After all, this feeling of lingering dread in his heart made him exceptionally uncomfortable, and he did not want to leave the Masked Moon Sect at this time.

After all, the current strength of the Masked Moon Sect had decreased quite a bit; not only were there only three Nascent Soul cultivators left, but there were also ten fewer Golden Core Stage Cultivators, as those had already gone to Spirit Beast Mountain.

They were considered elders of Spirit Beast Mountain; among the Seven Sects of Yue Country, the first and second rankings were both the "Masked Moon Sect."

"Let's go! It is time to save Wan'er."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect sighed softly and then led the way.

Qiong Laoguai and his disciple Yan Taibai followed closely behind!

Before long, they arrived at the side hall where Nangong Wan was located.

At this moment, on the bed in the side hall, there was a block of ice about a zhang in size, and inside the ice was a figure of a seven or eight-year-old girl.

If her face were not seven or eight parts similar to Nangong Wan's, only more youthful and adorable, Yan Taibai truly would not have believed that the girl inside the ice was actually Nangong Wan.

"The cultivation technique Wan'er practices is called 'Su Nu Reincarnation,' and its divine abilities are mysterious and unfathomable; even I do not know much about it. But Wan'er's constitution is very suitable for practicing this technique. Although this technique is incomparably profound, it has one major drawback: it enters a 'Reincarnation Period.' Once one enters the Reincarnation Period, both the body and the cultivation realm will drop by two major realms."

"However, this Reincarnation Period is not without its benefits. As long as one safely passes through this Reincarnation Period, the bottleneck of the next realm will be weakened significantly, making it easier to break through. I have searched through all the sect's ancient books and found no records regarding such a profound and mysterious technique. It was as if it suddenly appeared in the sect for Wan'er to choose. Even Wan'er herself does not know about this matter. The reason I am telling you is that I hope you two, master and disciple, will be able to investigate it in the future."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect looked at Nangong Wan inside the ice with eyes full of tenderness and parted her lips slightly to explain.

"This disciple understands and will certainly help Martial Aunt investigate the origin of the technique."

After hearing the words of the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect, Yan Taibai had a thoughtful look in his eyes and immediately agreed respectfully.

He actually had some inkling about this, but he did not dare to be certain.

Because it was too far away from him.

He could not investigate or consider it for the time being, but he still had to agree.

"This younger brother is the same."

Seeing this, Qiong Laoguai naturally followed suit and agreed.

"Mm!"

Hearing the master and disciple agree, the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect seemed to let go of something. With a thought, she took out a jade bottle with a talisman stuck to it from the Storage Bag given by the Ghost Spirit Sect.

She parted her red lips slightly, blew a breath of spiritual energy to remove the talisman, and the bottle stopper opened accordingly.

Then, a pungent, fishy smell wafted out, and immediately after, a greenish-brown medicinal pill rose from the jade bottle.

This caused Yan Taibai and his master Qiong Laoguai to exchange a glance.

"It is indeed the antidote."

As she spoke, she tapped her jade finger lightly, and the pill, wrapped in a bit of spiritual light, passed through the thick layer of ice and arrived at Nangong Wan's lips.

And Nangong Wan, as if sensing something, opened her small mouth slightly, allowing the pill to enter.

Seeing this scene, Qiong Laoguai and Yan Taibai did not breathe a sigh of relief; instead, they became even more nervous.

A full quarter of an hour later, the ice block rose and vanished, and a fragrant, misty vapor dispersed, making people feel refreshed and showing joy on their faces.

And in fact, following the sound of a young girl waking up and a soft, delicate cry, the hearts that Qiong Laoguai and Yan Taibai had been hanging were finally mostly put at ease.

Nangong Wan had woken up!

However, when the mist dispersed, what appeared on the bed was a petite, exquisite, and doll-like seven or eight-year-old girl, which made Yan Taibai and Qiong Laoguai's eyes light up, and they couldn't help but reach out to pinch the girl's tender, supple, baby-fat cheeks.

The "pig's trotters" they had just extended were met with a heavy blow.

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

Two heavy thuds rang out abruptly, followed immediately by sounds of pain.

"Senior Martial Sister!"

"Senior Martial Uncle!"

"Scram!"

"Pfft!"

"Many thanks to Master, Martial Uncle, and Junior Martial Brother for your great kindness in saving me. Wan'er is endlessly grateful."

The young girl, or rather Nangong Wan, giggled and performed a formal curtsy to the three of them to express her thanks.

"It is good that you are fine, Wan'er; no need to thank them. However, does this mean you have entered the Reincarnation Stage?"

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect said with a huff.

"Reporting to Master, that is correct. Your disciple was already not far from the Reincarnation Stage. This time, by a stroke of good fortune, I happened to pass through it early. It has saved me some trouble."

Nangong Wan replied crisply.

"That is good, this way Master can rest easy."

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect nodded her head slightly and smiled beautifully as she spoke.

Afterwards, she glanced at the master and disciple pair, Qiong Laoguai and Yan Taibai, and said indifferently.

"I have some private matters to discuss with Wan'er!"

"This junior takes his leave."

"This disciple takes his leave!"

Hearing this, the master and disciple pair, knowing they were of no use, hurriedly bowed and took their leave, departing from Sunset Hall.

They had no intention of staying a moment longer.

Can't afford to offend!

Can't afford to offend!

But can't I hide from them?

"Master, I would like to go see Yan'er first."

Once they left Sunset Hall, Yan Taibai requested of Qiong Laoguai.

"Good, here is the Restriction token. Rest assured, Yan'er has not suffered any grievances."

Hearing this, Qiong Laoguai naturally would not refuse; with Yan Taibai's current strength and divine abilities,

there was no one left in the entire Masked Moon Sect who could suppress him, and since he also intended to take Yan Ruyan away from the Masked Moon Sect, how could he refuse?

"Many thanks, Master, this disciple takes his leave!"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai took the Restriction token handed over by Qiong Laoguai and then thanked him and took his leave.

"Mm! Go."

Qiong Laoguai nodded slightly.

Immediately, Yan Taibai did not linger and headed straight for the forbidden area where Yan Ruyan was located.

The forbidden area was inside a cave deep within a mountain peak of the Masked Moon Sect, guarded by three Golden Core Stage Cultivators and an Ancient Array; in terms of safety, even a Nascent Soul cultivator could not break through it in a short time.

And with the Restriction token in hand, Yan Taibai naturally entered the "forbidden area" with ease.

As for those three Golden Core Stage Cultivators, they had already been ordered by Yan Taibai to leave.

With the Restriction token given by Qiong Laoguai, it was naturally impossible for the three of them not to comply.

"Brother Taibai, Yan'er knew you would be fine."

Upon seeing Yan Taibai, Yan Ruyan, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, opened her beautiful eyes at once and leaped up, throwing herself into Yan Taibai's arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

Because she had grown up and was tall, her little head pressed directly against Yan Taibai's chest, as if to confirm his heartbeat and ensure Yan Taibai was still alive.

"Brother is naturally fine, and what's more, Brother has returned this time intending to take Yan'er to a place; is Yan'er willing to follow Brother?"

With the beauty in his arms, Yan Taibai felt much calmer inside and spoke in a gentle, soft voice.

"Yan'er is willing; no matter where it is, Yan'er is willing."

Yan Ruyan agreed without hesitation, her voice laced with a hint of hard-to-conceal sobbing, making Yan Taibai unable to help but hold her tighter.

"Rest assured, Yan'er, once we arrive at that place, Brother will not let Yan'er suffer any grievances."

Yan Taibai promised.

"Yan'er believes in Brother."

Yan Ruyan nodded her head slightly and smiled beautifully.

Her bright, lovely cheeks revealed a touch of indescribable, moving maidenly charm, causing a look of trance and bewilderment to appear in Yan Taibai's eyes.

Then, under the maiden's shy expression, he lowered his head and pecked her once, but it was limited to just that one peck.

The current Yan Ruyan had only just come of age!

But Yan Taibai could not be worse than a beast!

At the same time

Outside the Masked Moon Sect, in a remote valley, thirty or forty figures with powerful auras appeared.

The few in the lead were none other than the Ghost Spirit Sect Master Wang Tiansheng, Suihun Zhenren, and that white-robed Elder Yun—three Nascent Soul cultivators in total, two of whom were Nascent Soul Mid Stage cultivators.

As for the remaining cultivators, without exception, they were all Golden Core Stage Cultivators.

And they had actually all appeared in the Yue Country Cultivation World, and near the Masked Moon Sect at that; their purpose was self-evident.

The reason they were able to enter the Yue Country Cultivation World in such a large group of high-level cultivators was also because of the master and disciple pair, Qiong Laoguai and Yan Taibai.

It was precisely because the master and disciple duo provided guarantees that loopholes appeared in the border defense line, and with the cover of two Nascent Soul Mid Stage cultivators, True Master Suihun and Elder Yun, how could they possibly be discovered by the Golden Core Stage cultivators of the Seven Sects at the border?

They entered the Yue Country Cultivation World with extreme ease, and their goal was to annihilate the entire Yanyue Sect; if successful, they could coordinate from within and without, and at most in one or two months, they could completely conquer the entire Yue Country Cultivation World.

If not for this objective, how could the Ghost Spirit Sect Master Wang Tiansheng and the white-robed Elder Yun have so easily agreed to the conditions of the master and disciple duo, Qiong Laoguai and Yan Taibai.

Because as long as the entire Yanyue Sect was destroyed and the entire Yue Country Cultivation World annexed, not only would their Ghost Spirit Sect's strength greatly increase, but they could also extract the souls and refine the spirits of Qiong Laoguai and all the elders and disciples of the Yanyue Sect.

Otherwise, the entire Tiannan Cultivation World would think their Ghost Spirit Sect was easy to bully.

To ensure nothing went wrong, this time both Nascent Soul Mid Stage cultivators, True Master Suihun and the white-robed Elder Yun, had come.

It was to keep in check the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Yanyue Sect who had killed Wang Tiangu; as long as one of them intercepted that person, the remaining cultivators of the Yanyue Sect would be nothing to fear.

These people were not all the cultivators who had entered, only half; the other half were monitoring the Yanyue Sect and guarding against the other sects of the Yue Country.

So as to prevent them from learning the news and coming to provide support.

Therefore, they had to make full preparations; as soon as the Yanyue Sect was destroyed, the disciples and elders of the Demon Dao Six Sects already prepared at the Yue Country border would immediately launch a war of invasion.

"How is the situation?"

Ghost Spirit Sect Master Wang Tiansheng asked.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, the Yanyue Sect has activated the Sect Protection Array. However, this Sect Protection Array requires the consumption of thousands of Spirit Stones every year, so it will not be able to hold for many days before the Yanyue Sect will have to withdraw it."

A Ghost Spirit Sect Golden Core Stage elder reported.

"A few days? Then we shall wait for them a few more days. As soon as the Yanyue Sect's Sect Protection Array is withdrawn, we will strike immediately. This time, we must annihilate the entire Yanyue Sect; only then can we avenge the Second Elder and Chan'er. I happen to hear that the Yanyue Sect has taken in a few disciples with good aptitude; perhaps they will be suitable for Chan'er."

Ghost Spirit Sect Master Wang Tiansheng said coldly.

"Yes, Sect Master."

The Ghost Spirit Sect Golden Core Stage elder naturally dared not object.

At this moment, True Master Suihun asked.

"Brother Yun, we have been on this road for quite a while. Could it be that you still haven't discovered that Nascent Soul Mid Stage cultivator?"

"No, throughout this journey, I have not detected the aura of any cultivator other than Qiong Laoguai. Either this person's cultivation realm is above mine, but that is absolutely impossible. If the Seven Sects of Yue Country had a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage, they would have long had the ability to unite the various countries to deal with our Righteous and Demonic paths. Or, this person is proficient in concealment techniques and has also discovered me. If that is the case, I do have a few guesses regarding this person's identity."

The white-robed old man, Elder Yun, frowned and analyzed.

"Which fellow Daoist is it?"

Ghost Spirit Sect Master Wang Tiansheng said hurriedly.

After all, Wang Tiangu was his brother; regardless of whether he could get revenge, he wanted to know the person's identity.

"Black Water Daoist, one of the Five Great Rogue Cultivators. His concealment techniques have even deceived Zhiyang Shangren, one of the Three Great Cultivators, let alone me."

"Black Water Daoist? How could he have a connection with Qiong Laoguai of the Yanyue Sect? Isn't he a member of the Nine Nations Alliance?"

True Master Suihun frowned, puzzled.

These Five Great Rogue Cultivators of Tiannan had a reputation second only to the Three Great Cultivators of Tiannan, because all five of them had cultivated to the Nascent Soul Mid Stage as rogue cultivators, and their divine abilities and methods were extraordinary.

In particular, the one ranked first, Tianhen Old Monster, was even known as the number one person beneath the Three Great Cultivators.

"Perhaps it is because he once admired the current Great Elder of the Yanyue Sect?"

Ghost Spirit Sect Elder Yun said, not entirely certain, revealing a secret matter.

(End of chapter)