Chapter 226

"Tsk tsk, three true disciples."

"Though the demonic sect's true disciples entering the relic realm are slightly more than our four sects, it's not by much—three true disciples slain would severely weaken the demonic sect's strength."

"No wonder Wang Yu didn't care much about being guaranteed true disciple status."

"With such a great merit, even without a recommendation, the sect would surely grant him true disciple status anyway." Ximen Mei said with amazement.

"I also hope the demonic sect's strength gets weakened—if not, this relic journey won't be optimistic at all."

"Sister, your family has deep knowledge—do you know how the demonic sect suddenly produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"Didn't the elder ancestors clearly state before entering that only Qi Condensation disciples could enter the Jialan Relic Realm?" Wang Yu asked about the matter he cared most about.

"I'm not entirely sure, but before entering, my ancestor confirmed that the relic realm couldn't allow Foundation Establishment power to enter—though if a Foundation Establishment being was born within the realm itself, that's another matter."

"Earlier, when I saw the demonic sect's Foundation Establishment cultivator's attack, it didn't seem like an ordinary cultivator—it felt more like a puppet or an avatar." Ximen Mei shook her head, equally puzzled.

"So it seems the demonic sect really found a loophole."

"But thinking about it, it's not surprising—this Jialan Trial was initiated by the demonic sect, so it's natural they prepared some hidden tricks in advance." Wang Yu mused.

"Perhaps it's true. But since the demonic sect has a Foundation Establishment force appearing, we can forget about the fifth relic key—just getting the item our ancestor wants out of the realm safely counts as completing our mission." Ximen Mei said slowly.

"Of course—I'll do my utmost to protect your safety on this journey." Wang Yu said without hesitation.

"Then when danger strikes, Sister will truly rely on you, Brother." Ximen Mei smiled gently.

More than half an hour later.

The white jade airship hovered silently in the high sky, below which three green wooden boats shot past at a height of several zhang.

Wang Yu could even see the words "Moluo" painted on one side of the wooden boats.

On the three demonic sect airships stood dozens of Moluo Sect disciples, all clad in pitch-black armor, standing motionless on the boats, each radiating an indescribable aura of malevolence.

In an instant, the three wooden boats vanished far away, finally disappearing from Wang Yu and Ximen Mei's sight.

"These Moluo Sect disciples are strange, but never mind—it has nothing to do with us."

"Let's go—the further ahead we go, the more likely we are to encounter demonic sect members."

"Actually, compared to the Black Soul Sect and the Joy Palace, the Moluo Sect is even more terrifying." Ximen Mei, having witnessed this, frowned deeply, yet spoke these words for no clear reason.

She then urged her airship forward once more.

Wang Yu, however, wore a thoughtful expression—he had never encountered Moluo Sect disciples like these before; they subtly gave him the impression of highly disciplined "soldiers."

Two hours later.

The white jade airship halted again atop a small hill, where a large, three-to-four-zhang-long emerald-green airship flew swiftly from another direction toward the mountain range's center.

On the airship stood seven or eight men and women—the men wore white robes and were handsome, the women all dressed in pink gowns, beautiful as flowers—they were disciples of the Joy Palace.

These Joy Palace disciples surrounded two "captives" on the airship, chatting excitedly.

The two captives were men bound tightly with black chains—one wore a yellow robe, aged thirty-seven or thirty-eight, and was fairly handsome.

The other wore silver clothing, only in his twenties, yet was astonishingly beautiful—even the surrounding Joy Palace women felt inferior.

This beautiful young man was being stared at intensely by the women, as if, were it not for others present, they would immediately devour him.

This left the beautiful young man pale-faced, looking pitifully vulnerable.

The yellow-robed man beside him bore the Four Directions Sect emblem and also looked dejected.

"When did this kid sneak in? He shouldn't be able to join a life-or-death trial like this." Ximen Mei clearly recognized the faces of the two captives and exclaimed in surprise.

"Sister means the man beside Zhou Chu?" Wang Yu immediately recognized the yellow-robed man's identity and was equally startled; hearing Ximen Mei say this, he naturally responded.

"Zhou Chu? Oh, there is indeed such a person among the inner sect disciples, but I'm not familiar with him—yet the man beside him is from the Thousand Bamboo Sect and has significant background. Since we've encountered him, we can't just watch him fall into demonic hands." Ximen Mei sighed, feeling helpless.

"A Thousand Bamboo Sect disciple?"

Wang Yu paused, stunned by her words.

From earlier conversation, it was clear Ximen Mei valued this mission deeply—yet now she was willing to expose their position to save an outer sect disciple. Clearly, this beautiful young man's identity was extraordinary.

"Brother, if you launch a surprise attack, can you kill these Joy Palace disciples? I've observed—they have no true disciples among them, and we must leave no survivors." Ximen Mei turned to Wang Yu, her expression grave.

"If there are no true disciples, and with the Xiao Mi Yun Banner talisman for concealment, it shouldn't be difficult." Wang Yu glanced at Zhou Chu, then at the beautiful young man beside him, replying calmly.

"Good—I'll steer the airship closer. You eliminate these Joy Palace disciples; I'll handle the rescue." Ximen Mei, having decided, urged her white jade airship forward.

Wang Yu nodded without a word, flipped his hand, and a green-red long knife appeared instantly. He drew a deep breath, his body rapidly swelling in size; after exhaling, his upper garment tore open, revealing a vivid tiger-head pattern on his back and black iron rings on his arms, as pale golden mist surged violently from within.

He gently closed his eyes, whispered "Overclock," breathed in and out at a strange frequency, and the pale golden mist rapidly retracted into his body.

His massive form instantly shrank back to normal, his skin turning pale gold, while dark green patterns emerged on his limbs.

When Wang Yu opened his eyes again, a clear crimson rune appeared between his brows, thick golden lines flanked his cheeks, the tiger-head on his back turned pure gold, its eyes wide open, fangs bared, terrifyingly fierce.

He had directly activated the Black Tiger Demon Body.