Chapter 692: A Desperate Counterattack

A powerhouse who had gradually climbed up from the lower realms! Some of his experiences were things even Dong Lizhong could not accept! Especially this time, the fact that Zhang Nuo had advanced in such a short period of time had left all the True Immortals greatly astonished! Even with the help of the "Eight Thousand Array Dao," the person who created this array back then had no way to use its power to bring his cultivation to completion!

Yet Zhang Nuo had done it, done it almost flawlessly!

After flying for several days, the group finally stopped amidst a mountain range. Jialouluo led the way in front, heading deep into the mountains, until they finally saw an extremely hidden teleportation Dharma Array!

"It seems the people from the Anti-Immortal Faction haven't discovered this array yet! Let's leave here quickly! We'll find a place to recover our cultivation before thinking about anything else!"

As Jialouluo spoke, he tossed several Spirit Stones into the array. The array flashed with brilliance, and immediately, the few of them all stood upon it. After a streak of white light vanished, the group disappeared along with it!

After a long period of teleportation, they finally appeared inside a mountain belly. The space was over a thousand miles in size, leaving the dozen or so people with no restrictions on their movements!

"This is a temporary residence I prepared for Immortal Lord. You fellow Daoists can rest here for the time being. I believe the people from the Anti-Immortal Faction will absolutely not be able to find this place!"

"You've worked hard all these years! We were able to be saved thanks to you all!"

Dong Lizhong wore a look of gratitude! The others also cupped their hands toward Jialouluo, Zhang Nuo, and the others one after another!

"Why be so polite, fellow Daoists? The greatest credit for this matter goes to Fellow Daoist Zhang and Fairy Ai. Without the two of them, Jialouluo alone would never have been able to accomplish this!"

Jialouluo said with some embarrassment. The truth was indeed so; if he had returned to the True Immortal Realm alone, he likely would have perished long ago! Let alone saving all the True Immortals!

"This matter truly requires thanking the two fellow Daoists, Zhang and Ai! How about this! Once my cultivation has recovered somewhat, we shall discuss it further!"

Glancing at Zhang Nuo and Ai Yuchen, Dong Lizhong's eyes held a sense of envy. He had stayed in the True Immortal Realm for ten thousand years, yet he still hadn't advanced to the Nine-Tier strength!

"What are you saying, Immortal Lord! Zhang is but a small cultivator from the lower realms; being able to come to the True Immortal Realm is thanks to the help of Fellow Daoist Jialouluo!"

Zhang Nuo appeared extremely humble! He did not claim credit or act arrogant, and the True Immortals immediately developed a great fondness for him! After some polite exchanges, the rescued group began to find places to sit and meditate. Zhang Nuo, however, pulled Jialouluo to the side and said:

"Fellow Daoist Jialouluo, what about the other fellow Daoists who ascended with us? Why haven't I seen them at all?"

Hearing Zhang Nuo's words, Jialouluo's expression turned bitter, and he then said with great anger:

"That guy Xuanyuan Jie, I don't know what method he used, but he actually found our previous hiding place!"

At just this one sentence, Zhang Nuo's expression also changed. Even if he were slow-witted, he could have guessed what would happen next!

"Could it be that only Fairy Ai survived?"

"That's not it. Fellow Daoist Jiufang Yi and Zhuanlun Wang also survived. To save Immortal Lord, I had them go to the perimeter to cause a distraction. I believe they should be on their way here at this time!"

Upon hearing that of the original dozen or so people, only these few remained, Zhang Nuo let out a long sigh! Everyone in the world wanted to become a True Immortal, thinking that once they reached the True Immortal Realm they could live forever, but who would have thought that figures who held sway in the lower realms would perish here!

"It has come to this; it is all my fault for miscalculating! Oh right, Human Emperor, how did you suddenly appear at Wuling Mountain?"

Along the way just now, Jialouluo had been too focused on escaping and hadn't had the chance to ask about this!

"It's nothing much! After Zhang came out of seclusion, I saw the Jade Slip left by Fellow Daoist Li. I didn't dare to delay for even a moment and rushed to our previous hiding place, only to find it in a wretched state! Later, I guessed you might have gone to Wuling Mountain, so I chased after you all the way! Fortunately, I caught up!"

After briefly explaining what happened before, Zhang Nuo asked in detail about the situation of the True Immortals. Jialouluo did not hide anything and explained the background of each rescued True Immortal to Zhang Nuo one by one!

Having a clear understanding, Zhang Nuo went to Ai Yuchen's side. Because this woman had consumed too much true essence, short-term meditation would not be enough for her to recover!

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Nuo used the Divine Tree to manifest a Lotus Platform, letting her enter it to recuperate! The young woman said a few words of thanks and did not stand on ceremony!

Several days later, Zhuanlun Wang and Jiufang Yi also arrived at this place, but the two were in a wretched state, their clothes tattered and their bodies covered in multiple wounds; it looked as though they had narrowly escaped death!

When they saw Zhang Nuo, they appeared extremely happy, especially when they discovered his cultivation had improved so much, and they couldn't stop praising him!

"I have made the two fellow Daoists suffer!"

Jialouluo bowed deeply to the two! Being able to save the True Immortals this time was largely due to Jiufang Yi and Zhuanlun Wang! They had stirred up the entire Immortal World, causing the majority of the Anti-Immortal Faction's main force to focus on them, so they didn't notice the events at Wuling Mountain!

However, the two were also quite lucky. During their escape, they didn't encounter any high-tier cultivators, only meeting one True Immortal at the Three-Tier realm, and it was only by joining forces that they barely managed to escape!

Several months later, Dong Lizhong and the others had regained a bit of their spirit. The group gathered together and began discussing how to fight their way back to the Immortal Palace!

The Immortal Palace was originally the territory of the Shunxian Faction, but because of that incident, it had been seized by the True Immortals of the Anti-Immortal Faction. The Immortal Palace contained countless treasures; if it were returned to the hands of the Shunxian Faction, things would be much easier!

Especially since the "Battle of Seizing Heaven" was about to arrive, taking back the Immortal Palace was imperative! If Xuanyuan Jie and the others were allowed to make contact with the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons, even if Zhang Nuo were a Nine-Tier cultivator, he would not be able to turn the tide!

"Our cultivation has not yet fully recovered, so we ask Fellow Daoist Zhang to lead the charge! To act as the main force in breaking into the Immortal Palace! What do you think?"

After Dong Lizhong analyzed the current situation, his gaze shifted to Zhang Nuo!

Hearing this, Zhang Nuo's face remained expressionless, but he gave a bitter smile in his heart. Among this group, his cultivation was the highest; if he disagreed, it would surely invite suspicion, but if he agreed, he really didn't want to take on such a dangerous task!

Inside the Immortal Palace, there wasn't just one Xuanyuan Jie; there were several other experts at the True Immortal realm. If they were driven to desperation and attacked in a group, Zhang Nuo didn't have absolute certainty!

"What? Is the fellow Daoist unwilling?"

Seeing that Zhang Nuo hadn't made a sound, Dong Lizhong asked cautiously.

"Immortal Lord has misunderstood! When Zhang followed Fellow Daoist Jialouluo to the True Immortal Realm, I had already resolved myself to death, so this time I should naturally give my all!"

These words gave everyone a sense of reassurance! Dong Lizhong let out a long breath and continued to arrange the following plans! After discussing for about half a month, under the collective wisdom of the group, they formulated a strategy that satisfied everyone! Feeling that it was foolproof, they began to make preparations!

For the rescued True Immortals to return to their peak state, it would take at least two or three years. This amount of time would normally be nothing to a cultivator, but the situation was urgent, and not a single moment could be wasted!

At the same time, the Anti-Immortal Faction's Immortal Lord in the Immortal Palace, Xuanyuan Jie, was sitting in a great hall with a gloomy expression! Below him, several True Immortals were silently bowing their heads, none of them making a sound!

The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult to even breathe. After a long while, Xuanyuan Jie asked indifferently:

"Have you still not found Dong Lizhong and the others?"

"Reporting to Immortal Lord! The cultivators sent out have returned to report that these people have seemingly evaporated! They haven't left even a single clue!"

Hearing the question, a middle-aged man of about fifty years old stepped out, bowed, and said.

"We are currently increasing our manpower, striving to soon..."

"Forget it! No need to look! The True Immortal Realm is so vast, there are too many places they can hide. Call all the manpower back now. This Immortal Lord guesses that before long, they will come knocking on our door themselves!"

Interrupting the man, Xuanyuan Jie narrowed his eyes and said with deep meaning.

"Immortal Lord! Among them is a guy named Zhang Nuo. It is rumored that his cultivation has already reached the Nine-Tier realm. In this old man's view, he is the most troublesome person. As for Dong Lizhong and the others, even if their cultivation recovers, most of their Magic Treasures were taken by us back then, so they are not to be feared!"

At this moment, an old man also stepped out. This person was Xuanyuan Jie's Right Protector, Xu Shuangjin!

"Did Qixian, Changsong, and He Zhe all die at the hands of this person?"

"Exactly! However, because not a single living soul was left at Wuling Mountain, it is impossible to determine the details!"

Nodding slightly, Xu Shuangjin said indifferently.

"Nine-Tier realm? You have lived in the True Immortal Realm for so many years, have you ever heard of anyone cultivating to the Nine-Tier realm?"

Xuanyuan Jie's expression turned cold. It was clear he did not believe that Zhang Nuo had already advanced to the Nine-Tier realm! Everyone shook their heads!

"Since no one has heard of it, the credibility of this matter is not very high! It might even be a smokescreen deliberately released by the people of the Shunxian Faction!"

"But this matter is of great importance; we must be on our guard!"

Xu Shuangjin wanted to explain a few more words, but Xuanyuan Jie waved his hand! Seeing is believing, and hearing is unreliable; until he saw Zhang Nuo himself, he would absolutely not believe this matter!

Just as the people in the great hall were discussing the matter of Zhang Nuo, the sky of the True Immortal Realm suddenly became a bit darker, and it was precisely this subtle change that immediately caused Xuanyuan Jie to react; his body, which had been sitting on the chair, vanished into thin air, and the next moment he arrived outside the great hall, looked up at the sky, and a smug, cold sneer appeared on his face!