Chapter 626: The Ultimate Victor

That strange green light...

Wang Beifeng and the Celestial Wind Sect's sect master had been blasted a thousand

li

away in an instant, their fates unknown.

The sudden turn of events left the immortals of the Celestial Wind Sect struggling to process what had just happened. More than a hundred thousand cultivators from both sides stood frozen, their gazes fixed on the breathtakingly beautiful female sect master.

She stood with her hands clasped behind her back. It did not suit her looks or demeanor at all, creating a dissonance obvious to anyone who looked.

However, beneath that dissonance lay utter indifference, as though she were superior to all the living beings before her. With only "her" and Wang Sheng seemingly existing in the world, she repeated the question that had utterly bewildered the others.

"Where is your master now?"

In her presence, Wang Sheng had to use all his strength just to steady his Dao Heart.

He had encountered a powerful being before. Chun Yangzi had risen to prominence only in the later years of the Heavenly Court era, yet he might not have been weaker.

"The name you mentioned belongs to my forefather, who has passed down the Dao of Pure Yang. Though he came to see me before, his whereabouts are now uncertain, and I have no way of knowing where he is."

"Oh? He came to see you?" She smiled faintly and nodded. "You have an excellent temperament and an acceptable aptitude. I am gathering virtuous individuals from all over the endless space. If you join me, I will spare no effort in training you."

Wang Sheng smiled awkwardly. "Honestly, I harbor no grand ambitions. I only wish to cultivate in peace and follow my forefather's teachings, carrying forward the Daoist heritage he left behind."

"Well, as one of the old ones, I won't force you. I can't remain here for long, but if you ever change your mind, you may come find me at any time."

A streak of green light shot out from the forehead of the Fengli Sect's sect master. It appeared thousands of

li

away in an instant and vanished just as quickly, leaving no visible trace.

The Fengli Sect's sect master grunted softly. She turned pale and swayed as if about to collapse. However, she still managed to open her eyes. "From here on, the grand elder will take full command..."

She descended right after, leaving the Fengli Sect staring at one another in stunned silence.

Several experts from the Celestial Wind Sect and the North-River Sword Sect quickly flew toward the rear to search for their sect master and Wang Beifeng.

As a few streaks of light shot out, the thunderous drums resumed. The opposing army turned in unison and retreated swiftly toward the horizon.

The Fengli Sect had not prepared to pursue, and the elders showed no intention of giving chase.

Wang Sheng faintly understood that the Fengli Sect's primary aim was to expand its influence while preserving its strength.

Lishang murmured beside him, "Just now, who possessed the Fengli Sect's sect master?"

Wang Sheng shook his head. "I don't know."

Since the Fengli Sect's forces were not giving chase, the two dared not advance alone. They could only watch as their enemies flew away in flashes of light.

They had arrived in overwhelming splendor. Now, they departed in equally dazzling retreat.

With a snap of the paper figure's fingers, she had pierced through the chests of two late-stage Heavenly Immortals and blasted them thousands of

li

away. Whether they survived remained uncertain.

"This is what it truly means to be an expert."

Wang Sheng flicked his sword finger gesture lightly, recalling his Dragon Sword and immortal armor into his Qiankun Ring.

Dawn had just broken when the Celestial Wind Sect's army arrived. When they retreated, the sun was still rising in the east like an orange-red disk, resembling a sunrise on Earth.

No one knew who among the Fengli Sect's immortals let out the first long howl, but more followed in succession. Though it was still uncertain whether the Celestial Wind Sect would fully withdraw, the Fengli Sect's sect master had severely wounded two of their strongest combatants in a single move. There was nothing left for the Fengli Sect to fear.

By the time the grand defensive array closed once more, the beautiful sect master had already disappeared. The celestial soldiers returned to their stations on their respective peaks, and the oppressive tension within the Fengli Sect vanished completely.

Wang Sheng and Lishang returned to the vicinity of the teleportation array. The immortals of the Xinghai Sect were visibly pleased. Under the heavy pressure of the Celestial Wind Sect, the Xinghai Sect and the Fengli Sect had been bound together like grasshoppers on the same rope.

Before long, female disciples of the Fengli Sect brought over wine and dishes, then performed songs and dances.

The grand elder came again. She expressed repeated gratitude to Wang Sheng and Lishang, then cautiously asked, "Elder Pi, are you acquainted with that senior?"

Wang Sheng shook his head. "That senior is probably an old friend of my forefather."

The grand elder smiled kindly. "Oh? If so, then you and our sect can be considered related."

Her smile reminded Wang Sheng of an elderly neighbor from his previous life, calling him over to share a meal of stewed ribs.

The old woman gently remarked, "The Celestial Wind Sect will certainly withdraw today. Even if their sect master and Wang Beifeng survive, they will not regain combat power anytime soon. Please visit our sect more often in the future, Elder Pi.

"Anyway, would you like some attendants to cater to your personal needs, or do you need any treasure? We have collected several fine swords over the years. I can search for them and give them to you later."

The old woman was clearly a direct subordinate of the mighty being from the Heavenly Court. Nevertheless, Wang Sheng declined each gesture of goodwill. He hadn't forgotten the need to keep his distance from such a mighty figure, lest it interfere with the principles of the cultivation world.

Moreover, because of what had happened to Lan Huilin, he instinctively felt a trace of reluctance toward the Fengli Sect and had no desire to associate with them too closely.

After seeing the old woman off, Lishang let out a displeased snort. The elders around them also watched Wang Sheng with faint concern, worrying that he would be packed away into someone else's "capture ball."

Wang Sheng found himself unable to offer any explanation. Hence, he simply smiled and said, "Rest for now, everyone. We'll have to wait and see whether the Celestial Wind Sect will choose to retreat or continue the fight. They will most likely withdraw, though."

Linyuan sighed with emotion. "The mysterious divine ability of the Fengli Sect's sect master passing the sect master position to Li Tianyao would be ideal."

The immortals of the Xinghai Sect also began discussing the strange scene from before. Most believed that some expert in hiding had secretly possessed the Fengli Sect's sect master, yet none could explain how it was possible.

Wang Sheng discussed it for a while with Yaoyun as well, but they still could not determine who the expert could be.

The individual, who addressed themself as "one of the old ones," possessed unfathomable cultivation. They liked to stand with hands clasped behind their back, treated cultivators of lower realms as though they were nothing, and focused only on people and matters that interested them.

At the peak of the Heavenly Court, it had at least sixty to seventy such experts. Most of the mighty figures who had survived from the Primal Era shared these same manners.

After waiting for about half an hour, news spread everywhere that the Celestial Wind Sect had withdrawn. Ethereal music immediately played from the various peaks of the Fengli Sect.

The immortals of Xinghai Sect did not remain long. Half a day later, once the Celestial Wind Sect army had already retreated far enough, they withdrew decisively through the teleportation array. Just as before, they stationed more than a hundred immortal soldiers, two elders, and five disciples around the array.

Wang Sheng and Lishang had just returned to the Xinghai Sect when the Fengli Sect sent an elder through the teleportation array, bringing numerous gifts as thanks for their assistance in battle.

Wang Sheng did not participate in this sort of praise and ceremony. Yao Xingzi handled everything instead, making it seem as though Wang Sheng was brushing off his sleeves after success and concealing his merits and fame.

In truth, Wang Sheng was just hurrying to find his senior sister to confirm that she was safe. However, the moment he stepped out of the sect's grand defensive array, he heard a faint and somewhat restrained voice in his mind.

"

Master, I have obtained the banner. Where can I find you?

"

Wang Sheng's eyebrows rose slightly.

He can talk to me telepathically despite being so far away?

In response, he told him to head to Fengmo, stay in the ancient battlefield, and find a place there to hide. He would go look for him shortly.

"

I will go there as fast as I can.

"

Instead of responding, he merely murmured, "

Can this cultivation technique truly be used only on fiends?

"

"

Of course,

"

Yaoyun replied lightly.

"

Meet up with him as soon as possible. The sooner Daoist Master Qinglin is freed from that artifact, the better. You have to prepare something first, though.

"

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"

What is it?

"

"

We fortunately managed to find the remaining half of Qinglin's Primordial Spirit, but Primordial Spirits cannot survive long without a body. Moreover, considering the lifespan of a True Immortal, then even if his Primordial Spirit still exists, I fear he's already nearing his end.

"

Wang Sheng immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

"

Then what should we prepare?

"

"

Resolve.

"

"

Resolve?

"

Yaoyun softly replied, "

Mm. You can sometimes be impulsive enough to disregard danger completely, yet you're still too softhearted toward those around you. You were like this with your master's wife, and the same with your junior sister. This is simply softhearted benevolence. I do not dislike it, but it truly makes great achievements difficult.

"

For this to work, you have to steel your resolve. Since you are doing this for Xi Lian's sake, you should not concern yourself with Qinglin's lofty reputation. What use is one's reputation if even their remnant soul is gone? Even if he wishes for death or anything along those lines, save him as soon as you find his Primordial Spirit anyway.

"

If you cannot extract his Primordial Spirit, then find a treasure he can reside inside as a spiritual entity. With me guiding him from the side, we'll have an eighty percent chance of success.

"

Wang Sheng was speechless. He could not shake the feeling that his own sword spirit had seen through him thoroughly.

Still, Yaoyun was right. He was doing this for Xi Lian. Regardless of Qinglin's own choice, he would rescue him and bring him to the fox fiend.

If Qinglin wishes to die, then he can die in Big Sister's embrace! This time, I will be the one to decide!

***

Having made up his mind, he picked up the pace. He first went into the city to make sure that his senior sister and the others were safe. Without explaining what he intended to do, he asked his senior sister to wait one more day for him, then hurriedly left Fengmo.

Soon, he met up with Long Aotian, who was hiding his tracks within the ancient battlefield, and immediately came to a realization.

In this battle between the Celestial Wind Sect and the Fengli Sect, he was most likely the ultimate victor.