Chapter 854: Getting Backdoored

The factions in the Azure Flame World thought that with their hundreds of years of foundations, even if the Yanlin City came under attack by the outsiders, they would be able to defend themselves for several days at the very least.

None of them would have thought that the day the outsiders entered the Azure Flame World would be the day the Yanlin City fell!

Above the heavenly screen were many experts from the other continents who were watching the events unfold.

All of them wanted to watch the Yanlin Clan embarrass themselves and they were gloating at their downfall, but the second the city fell, a sense of unease crept up the hearts of the various outsiders.

With the exception of Martial Ancestors who had been sent out to relay the news, there were at least 6 Martial Sages who tore through the skies to arrive at the heavenly screen as they tried to rush to the Southern Yanlin Continent to provide support.

Due to the difference in distance above and below the heavenly screen, the experts of the Azure Flame World would find it a little difficult to pinpoint their location. Even though those experts who wanted to provide reinforcements entered the Southern Yanlin Continent, they were scattered all around. Fortunately, they managed to arrive 1000 miles of the Yanlin City.

However, they were quickly intercepted by the experts of the Azure Ascension World and weren’t allowed to come close.

As for those who returned to relay the news... The events that happened, along with the fall of Yanlin City, shocked the experts of the various factions.

Even though there were still some who were afraid of the strength the outsiders displayed, there were still many experienced and knowledgeable individuals in the Azure Flame World. They knew that they had to stabilize the situation in the Southern Yanlin Continent before they tried anything else. Among them was the clan leader of the Yuancang Clan of the Eastern Nuanyuan Continent, Yuancang Ming. He was also an expert standing at the peak of the Martial Sage Realm.

When he flew past the heavenly screen and arrived in the air above the Southern Yanlin Continent, he noticed a pillar of light locking Yanlin Zongheng in place before 2 different rays of sword light swirling around him...

Despite his powerful cultivation, he felt a mysterious aura rapidly approaching. Even though it didn’t feel as strong as himself, he felt a slight sense of threat when the expressionless figure approached and blocked his path.

Huang Jinghan of the Yuanchen Sect arrived to stop him! An expert at the fourth element of the Martial Dipper Realm had come!

...

Above the seas thousands of miles from the Yanlin City, debris was floating about the water's surface. It was clear to all that a massive battle had just taken place from the destruction strewn about and the massive waves that were billowing.

Dozens of Martial Extermination Realm experts from the Azure Ascension World were busy gathering the spoils of war.

Not too far away, the 4 Martial Extermination Realm experts from the Tongyou Institution were standing on a somewhat worn-out boat that was barely staying afloat. They were staring down the other Martial Extermination Realm experts of the Azure Ascension World.

“All of us worked together to achieve victory, and we should split the spoils of war among all of us. It’s not right for you guys to be acting like this, right?” A sparse haired middle-aged cultivator stood on the deck of the ship facing the experts of the institution. A deep frown could be seen on his face, but he still seemed a little afraid of those standing against him. Even so, he didn’t sound like he was going to give in.

The Martial Extermination Realm experts in the surroundings might not have said anything, but they seemed to have the same intention as him.

“Chirp!” A loud cry came from the skies above and thunder started to rumble in the densely packed clouds above. A large bird whose wingspan extended several feet wide flew down from the heavens and landed on the mast of the ship.

Sun Haiwei’s gaze landed on the item in the bird’s claws, and a smile formed on her face.

When the Martial Extermination Realm experts standing around noticed the bird who was exuding an air of majesty, looks of fear appeared on their faces.

Sun Haiwei chuckled the next second. “Everyone, my Tongyou Institution will only take this flying ship from the battle. We won’t take anything else.”

The Martial Extermination Realm experts glanced at each other and eventually, the sparse haired cultivator muttered, “Alright. Let’s do that!”

After they reached their conclusion, the Martial Extermination Realm experts started to leave and they seemed to be in a haste to run away.

Sun Haiwei forced a smile and looked at the other 3. “Let’s hope that this ship that can maintain flight for a short while will be helpful for Instructor Chu...”

Tian Mengzi added, “It should probably be of use. After all, the ship isn’t exactly empty... Those treasures stored within can be considered an additional benefit for us.”

Dou Zhong suddenly added at the side, “I wonder what the situation is like in the Yanlin City now...”

Compared to the other 3, Yan Ming seemed a lot more curious about the ship they were on. She stared at it and asked, “This ship is actually massive... Will we be able to transport it back in one piece?”

...

The mirror that was hovering above the Yanlin City was filled with cracks at that point and Lu Wuzi spat out a mouthful of blood. “Kou Chongxue, there’s only one thing I’m going to do next! I’m going to focus on my recovery!”

The final ring of light emitted by the mirror shattered and even though Lu Wuzi hadn’t lost a clone, he suffered heavy injuries.

Kou Chongxu appeared from the sealed space created by the mirror and replied, “Lu Wuzi, fortunately, you were there to help us prevent the shockwaves of the battle from spreading to the rest of the city.”

Yifeng also leaped out from the sealed space with a look of contemplation on his face. “Hey, don’t you think that the clan leader was acting a little weird?”

Heh... As if you’re a normal person...

“He could have escaped back then, but he didn’t!” Xiong Yuanfeng of the Hengling Sect also took part in the battle against Yanlin Zongheng, and he had a huge wound that seemed to split his body in half. However, he didn’t seem too concerned about the injury. He continued, “Even with Senior Lu Wuzi sealed off a region of space with his Halo Mirror, he should have been able to break through the area with his strength. Even destroying half the city shouldn’t pose too much of a problem to him. However, he chose to go all out against us, hoping to drag one of us to death with him. He chose not to flee, and he didn’t try saving any of his clansmen either. As a clan leader, his actions are indeed strange.”

Ancestor Hao Yun of the Great Observation Sect was the last to emerge from the sealed space. He turned his gaze to Kou Chongxue and asked, “I wonder what Patriarch Kou feels about the situation?”

“Hehe...” Kou Chongxue didn’t seem too concerned about it. “Don’t think too much about it. He probably fried his brains by too much cultivation.”

Kou Chongxue seemed to have said it extremely casually, but none of them thought that he was making a joke.

Yun Jingzi’s soft sigh came from the side. “Is it an imbalance of his origins? Could it actually affect a cultivator’s mental state?”

Yifeng and Lu Wuzi fell into silence. An unprecedented look of solemnity appeared on Yifeng’s face.

Kou Chongxue swept his gaze across those present and mumbled in a profound voice, “An imbalance of origin isn’t the only problem in the path of cultivation!”

All of them wanted to ask more. After all, there was only 1 person among them who managed to refine 5 fate dippers and reached the edge of the grand completion stage of the Martial Dipper Realm. None of the rest present were lacking in resources of fate dippers. With their status and strength, if they really wanted to take another step forward in their path of cultivation, they could easily gather all the resources they needed from their faction.

However, none of them had the guts to take the last step! Even Lu Wuzi, Yifeng, Jiu Du, and other existences at the fourth element of the Martial Dipper Realm were afraid to try.

What was the reason?!

Naturally, it was because they were unable to get over the risk of an imbalance in their fate dippers and enter a state of cultivation deviation!

Now that Kou Chongxue said that an imbalance of fate dippers wasn’t the only problem that might appear during their cultivation, that would mean...

That meant that Kou Chongxue not only found other problems during his path of cultivation, but he managed to solve them to a certain extent to reach his current level!

The most obvious sign was the fact that he was at the large completion stage of the Martial Dipper Realm. He only needed to take another step to reach the grand completion stage!

In the thousands of years of inheritances in the Azure Origin World, Azure Spiritual World, and the current Azure Ascension World that was the combination of the both of them, it wasn’t as though no one had reached the fifth element of the Martial Dipper Realm. Of the 4 Elysiums, they definitely had existences who reached that level.

From the records and experiences they left behind in the fourth and fifth element of the Martial Dipper Realm, most of them were mere speculations or things they achieved by pure luck. Not a single proper way of advancement could be found.

As such, one could only imagine the feeling running through their heart when they heard what Kou Chongxue said.

Of course, they also knew that there was no way Kou Chongxue would continue to teach them what he learned. After all, it was an extremely well-guarded secret.

Many of them wanted to learn more, but they knew better than to ask.

Bang!

A massive blast erupted from the core of the city, attracting the attention of the Martial Dipper Realm experts standing in the air.

“There... The core of the city! Oh no!” Yun Lingzi yelled, but before the words fully left his lips, a five colored dipper qi appeared to stop the explosion.

“Shang Xia, what do you want?!” An enraged cry came from the core of the city as 3 sorry figures stumbled out from the sea of five colored dipper qi.

Yun Lingzi’s pupils constricted and he mumbled, “It’s Qing Pingzi and the rest, Martial Uncle...”

Lu Wuzi raised his hand to stop Yun Lingzi before turning to look at Kou Chongxue.

A light flashed in Kou Chongxue’s eyes, but he looked extremely relaxed.

It was then that a clear voice rang through the city. “Hehe, The Northern Sea Mystic Sect wants to fish for benefits in a situation like this, and even sent a scapegoat out here to mess with me! If not for my help, would he be able to stay alive? What’s the matter? Are you guys trying to return my favor with enmity?”

“You...”

Kou Chongxue chuckled lightly in response. “Those juniors there are just messing around and they don’t know what’s good for them. Alright, let me head over to take a look.”