Chapter 1201: Waiting for a Long Time

Lady Suya and Ji Tiandu did not leave immediately. Before departing, they lingered in the Immortal Exchange for a while.

Sure enough, they saw the Great Desolate Immortal make a move, but even after an entire hour, he still hadn't found those few division heads of the Killing Spiritual Division.

Some Loose Immortals hurriedly left the Immortal Workshop to pursue them, which likely meant they had concluded that those division heads had already left this place.

Lady Suya frowned slightly and said, "Tiandu, this matter of yours is somewhat unnecessary. If those division heads caught wind of anything and informed Huang Qingque, it might affect us."

Ji Tiandu was silent for a few breaths, then said calmly, "They can't possibly know that the Great Desolate Immortal is a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect. If they knew that, they wouldn't dare come here. What you worry about won't happen."

Lady Suya's eyes narrowed. "When you went to see Huang Qingque last time, did what he said offend you?"

Ji Tiandu smiled. "I was asking for help. It's normal for him not to be that polite. Sister-in-law, do you really think what I did today was wrong?"

Lady Suya seemed to see a hint of ferocity in Ji Tiandu's smile and changed her words at the last moment. "The Killing Spiritual Division did indeed interfere with your affairs. Giving them a lesson is justified. If this matter doesn't affect us, then let it be as if it never happened. If it does, I'll speak to my husband about it."

"Alright."

Ji Tiandu was smiling, but there was coldness beneath it.

***

Fang Chen and the others moved swiftly, heading toward the nearest Starry Teleportation Formation. Their destination grew closer, and the outline of the formation gradually became visible before them.

Seeing the destination at last, Yang Yuanwu exhaled in relief, though his expression remained grave as he looked at the others.

He said, "This time I was careless. I didn't expect Qingfeng to know my identity. Turns out he's even connected with the Lesser Immortal Realm. But... Why would the Lesser Immortal Realm betray us? A few years ago, they even sent people to discuss matters of the Tuxiong Star with Young Master Qingque."

"Don't forget, they also cooperate with the Spirit God Sect. Since they betrayed us, it means their relationship with the Spirit God Sect is even closer."

"When we leave, we must inform Young Master Qingque of this, so he knows the Lesser Immortal Realm harbors ill intentions against us."

As they spoke, they arrived at the teleportation formation. Just as they were about to leave Xianxu Star through it, a figure appeared from inside. It was the Great Desolate Immortal, wearing a green robe.

The Great Desolate Immortal smiled. "You're slow indeed. This old man has been waiting here for quite some time."

Yang Yuanwu and the others suddenly felt a chill run down their spines. The Great Desolate Immortal had clearly been in the Immortal Lane just moments ago, yet now he was already waiting ahead of them.

A fifth-transformation Immortal was this fast?!

Though they were wary, they did not show it outwardly.

Feigning a confused look, Yang Yuanwu asked, "You were waiting for us, Senior? But why?"

The Great Desolate Immortal had been carefully observing the five ever since he arrived. Yang Yuanwu, the first to speak, didn't show any signs of knowing he was a Spirit God Sect member. But the Great Desolate Immortal didn't buy it. Otherwise, why would they leave before the Immortal Exchance concluded? Additionally, it was too much of a coincidence for them to decide to leave right after his discussion with Lady Suya and Ji Tiandu.

The Great Desolate Immortal smiled and asked, "Do you know my background?"

Yang Yuanwu replied respectfully, "Senior is the Great Desolate Immortal, the one presiding over this Immortal Exchange."

"That's right. The Immortal Exchange is hosted by me. I happened to notice you leaving in such a rush. Tell me, were you disappointed with this exchange?" The Great Desolate Immortal smiled and continued. "If not, why would you leave early?"

"Our purpose in coming to the Immortal Debate Gathering has been achieved. To avoid complications, we chose to leave early. Senior, don't misunderstand—this gathering was a great success. We gained much from discussing the Dao with our fellow cultivators." Yang Yuanwu explained.

After a pause, he added, "If you have no further instructions, we will take our leave."

"Please go ahead," the Great Desolate Immortal nodded with a smile.

Seeing this, Yang Yuanwu led the others into the teleportation formation. The moment it activated, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They did not doubt the accuracy of Fang Chen's intelligence. The Great Desolate Immortal's strange act of waiting for them here was proof enough of the matter's truth. No further evidence was needed.

It now seemed that since the Great Desolate Immortal realized they hadn't sensed anything unusual, he no longer intended to make a move.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

This was understandable. If news spread that the Great Desolate Immortal was a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect, hosting future Immortal Exchanges might not attract many experts at all.

The gathering's entry fee was an immortal crystal per Loose Immortal—small streams that added up to a river, a very lucrative business built on reputation.

Everyone knew that while the Spirit God Sect had some renown across the Nine Realms, most of it was infamy. Even those who purchased their Blood Spirit God Pills secretly harbored great disdain for them.

Just as everyone had thought they were out of the prickly situation, the Great Desolate Immortal suddenly stepped into the teleportation formation.

"Ah, it suddenly occurred to me. This formation leads to the Huangsha Star. I happen to need to go there as well, so I'll accompany you all," he said, smiling and nodding at everyone.

By now, the formation had already been activated, so there was no time to back out.

Yang Yuanwu and Fang Chen's group betrayed no change of expression.

The light flickered, and in an instant, the six had arrived far from the Xianxu Star, on the Huangsha Star.

Endless sandstorms swept through the air, with dense earth elemental energy surging in the air. The other four elemental forces were very weak in comparison.

This was a land so skewed in the Five Elements that it rarely birthed great cultivators.

No sooner had the six stepped out of the teleportation formation than Yang Yuanwu took the initiative to act. He summoned a massive dark blue cauldron, and an overwhelming flow of immortal energy surged forth. From within erupted a dark blue divine light that spread like an all-encompassing net, enveloping the Great Desolate Immortal.

"That old thief has already decided to kill us. This treasure of mine can hold him off for a while. Split up!" Yang Yuanwu's voice rang in everyone's ears.

The Great Desolate Immortal showed no surprise. His body bent slightly, his murky eyes were full of mockery.

"Tsk."

He let out a cold sneer, then lightly snapped his fingers toward the dark blue divine light. In an instant, the divine light shattered, and the force extended to the dark blue cauldron. Under this power, the treasure didn't even last a breath of time.

First, layers of cracks appeared, then it instantly shattered. The fragments carried a terrifying momentum, striking Yang Yuanwu until he was riddled like a sieve.

The clash happened in a flash. Between Yang Yuanwu's attack and his defeat, only moments passed, and Chu Jia and the others barely managed to escape a hundred feet away.

Seeing Yang Yuanwu in such a state filled them with rage, but they knew he had already created an opportunity for them to flee.

Though that sliver of a chance was extremely slim, they could not waste it. They scattered and fled separately, but as they left, they vaguely noticed one figure remained unmoving.

"Why isn't Chief Fang leaving!?"

"Forget it, we've wasted the chance that Daoist Yang created for us. Such a pity."

The Great Desolate Immortal was a fifth transformation Immortal. Staying there meant no chance of survival.