Chapter 381: Yan Qingying Faces Peril: The Holy Church

Although he missed the opening of the Immortal Ancient World, Jun Xiaoyao truly did not care.

To him, he had no fear that any other prodigy could surpass him.

Thus, he calmly cultivated within the Burial Realm.

But he never expected that a member of the Jun family's lineage had perished inside the Immortal Ancient World.

Yet upon careful thought, this was only natural.

This era was brutal; only a tiny fraction would reach the end.

Even the top ten lineages of the Jun family could not all survive unscathed.

A few lineages dying would simply mean the Jun family would later elevate other gifted clan members.

It was cold, cruel—but it was the truth.

"Though some things are unavoidable, the Ancient Imperial Clans and the Fallen God Palace—you've gone too far." Jun Xiaoyao's gaze was icy, his killing intent freezing the void.

But before entering the Immortal Ancient World, he needed to return to the Jiang family and deliver the Nine Marvelous Reincarnation Immortal Grass to Jiang Daoxu.

Soon, Jun Xiaoyao boarded a floating airship and headed toward the Jiang family.

Meanwhile, in a certain region of the Immortal Ancient World,

a figure was swiftly darting through the void.

It was a young girl, clad in a black gauze dress, slender and exquisitely beautiful.

Behind her, a pair of black-and-white Fallen Heaven Wings flared once, carrying her across a hundred zhang of void.

She was Yan Qingying, Jun Xiaoyao's follower and the inheritor of the Devouring God Demonic Art.

Yan Qingying's progress was also astonishing; as a prodigy from the lower realms, her cultivation base had already reached the peak of the Void God Realm.

She stood merely a hair's breadth away from the True God Realm.

This was due to her Devouring God Demonic Art, which allowed her to devour countless innate talents and origins, accelerating her growth.

Originally, with this pace, Yan Qingying would soon break through into the True God Realm.

But halfway, others began secretly organizing a collective ambush to kill her.

"Yan Qingying, why struggle? You can evade the first, but not the fifteenth. Under the Holy Maiden's call, do you truly believe you can escape the siege?"

"Exactly. The Devouring God Demonic Art must not reappear in this world. The Holy Maiden, compassionate and merciful, has gathered us to crush this art in its infancy. You should surrender peacefully."

Behind Yan Qingying, hundreds of prodigies pursued her.

If it were only a few, or even a dozen, Yan Qingying could still counterattack.

But these hundreds were far too many.

Among them, the leaders had already reached the late or peak Void God Realm.

Yan Qingying alone could not possibly stand against so many.

And most importantly, they had all answered the call of one person to hunt her down.

"The Holy Church's Holy Maiden, Himiko!" Yan Qingying's obsidian-black eyes flashed with icy fury.

The Holy Church, like the Human Immortal Sect and the Demon Immortal Sect, was an immortal great sect of the Vast Heaven Immortal Realm, with profound strength and deep roots.

During this opening of the Immortal Ancient World, the Holy Church sent two top figures.

The Holy Church's Son and the Holy Maiden Himiko.

It was the Holy Maiden Himiko who rallied the prodigies to ambush her.

Yan Qingying assured herself she had never met Himiko, nor had she devoured any member of the Holy Church.

She could not understand why Himiko wanted her killed.

Was it truly only because she did not want the Devouring God Demonic Art to resurface?

"You will pay for what you have done," Yan Qingying said coldly.

The Immortal Ancient World was vast; entrants were randomly teleported.

Thus, Yan Qingying had not been with Yi Yu, Wang Chuan, or others.

Each had their own opportunities and would not encounter one another early on.

This was why Yan Qingying now stood utterly alone.

Hearing Yan Qingying's words, the pursuing prodigies' expressions subtly changed.

They knew Yan Qingying was Jun Xiaoyao's follower.

Ambushing Yan Qingying was tantamount to irrevocably angering Jun Xiaoyao.

But remembering that Jun Xiaoyao had yet to appear, they calmed down.

"Hah, don't try to hide behind his name. Even if the Jun family's divine heir survives the Burial Land, his current cultivation is surely inferior to ours, isn't it?" sneered one pursuer.

"Exactly. And the Immortal Ancient World permits killing. Several Jun family lineages have already perished—why should we care about one mere follower?" added another.

"You're asking for death!"

Yan Qingying dodged while unleashing the Devouring God Demonic Art, turning several more prodigies into nothingness.

Thus, Yan Qingying fought and retreated, holding on stubbornly.

She believed Jun Xiaoyao would return with the most formidable presence!

As the battles within the Immortal Ancient World reached their fever pitch,

Jun Xiaoyao had already returned to the Jiang family.

Upon seeing Jun Xiaoyao appear, every Jiang clan member froze, then erupted in ecstatic shouts.

"Young Master… it's the Young Master returned!"

"The Young Master truly returned unharmed from the Ten-Thousand-Year Burial Land!"

"Heavens—this aura… I didn't imagine wrong, is he True God Realm?!"

Upon sensing Jun Xiaoyao's cultivation aura, every Jiang clan member was stunned.

Had they not known he had entered the Burial Land, they might have suspected he had merely strolled through the Immortal Ancient World.

Otherwise, how could his power have surged so rapidly—even surpassing those prodigies still training inside the Immortal Ancient World?

"Xiaoyao, you've finally returned!"

Jiang Rou flashed forward, appearing before Jun Xiaoyao.

She touched his face, patted his shoulders, as if checking for injuries.

Only after confirming he was unharmed did Jiang Rou sigh in relief: "You vanished into the Burial Land so long—I was terrified for you."

"Mother, you know my abilities—why worry?" Jun Xiaoyao smiled.

"By the way, where's Grandfather?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.

"Your grandfather's condition is worsening," Jiang Rou's expression dimmed slightly.

"It doesn't matter. I have not failed your trust." Jun Xiaoyao produced the Nine Marvelous Reincarnation Immortal Grass.

Instantly, the surrounding heavens and earth fell silent.

Every Jiang clan member stared wide-eyed, mouths agape in shock.

In their wildest hopes, they had only imagined Jun Xiaoyao returning safely from the Burial Land as a miracle.

They never imagined he had actually brought back the Nine Marvelous Reincarnation Immortal Grass from the Burial Land!

"Young Master is mighty!"

"No wonder he's our Jiang family's Young Master!"

After a brief silence, a wave of fervent cheers erupted.

Jun Xiaoyao had proven his strength beyond doubt—through action alone.

He truly deserved the title of Jiang family's Young Master!

Then, Jun Xiaoyao directly accompanied Jiang Rou and others to Jiang Daoxu's secluded cultivation realm.

After nearly a year apart, Jiang Daoxu had grown even older.

Upon seeing Jun Xiaoyao return safely, Jiang Daoxu's aged face broke into a smile.

Though he knew Jun Xiaoyao was unharmed, seeing him return in person still filled him with deep relief.

"Grandfather, had it not been for the ancient artifacts you bestowed upon me, I might truly have perished. Take this Nine Marvelous Reincarnation Immortal Grass—please, cultivate it." Jun Xiaoyao offered the immortal grass.

"Good, good, good! Jiang Daoxu is so fortunate to have a grandson like you!"

Jiang Daoxu laughed heartily, repeating "good" three times—his joy and pride overflowing.

Afterwards, Jiang Daoxu began closing his eyes to cultivate and absorb the Nine Marvelous Reincarnation Immortal Grass.

With this immortal grass, Jiang Daoxu might not regain his former peak—but at least his life was now secure.

Having resolved the most urgent matter, Jun Xiaoyao finally exhaled in relief.

At this moment, Jiang Rou stepped forward and said: "Xiaoyao, Shengyi and Luoli are already inside the Immortal Ancient World. You should depart now."