Chapter 660: A Midway Medicine Gift

It was quite complicated to approach the outer array to kill someone.

The canopy of the divine tree did not fully cover the outer array. Trying to hide inside it and ride the black clouds straight into the outer region was difficult and far too conspicuous.

If he concealed his aura instead and slipped into the crowd of cultivators, getting close to Li Tianyao's group would take a great deal of time. There would likely be all sorts of unforeseen complications along the way as well.

Wang Sheng and Yaoyun weighed their options repeatedly.

"

Li Tianyao is only an heir,

"

Yaoyun said.

"

You're strong enough now to wipe out the Celestial Wind Sect on your own once you return. There is no need to go through all this trouble.

"

"

That is true, but I still worry he would bring in some powerful backing and introduce new variables for the thirteen qi planets to face,

"

Wang Sheng murmured. Another question then dawned on him. "

How did he get here so quickly?

"

Yaoyun thought for a moment.

"The Celestial Wind Sect has a teleportation array. He could have had some business near this place when he decided to come over along with that female immortal.

"

"

I'll try to get closer. Nipping this in the bud would be for the best.

"

Wang Sheng beckoned with his right hand. Yaoyun nodded gently, turning into Spiritless and flying obediently into his grasp.

He studied the bronze mirror for a while, plotted out a route, and then sped through the canopy. He passed through two layers of array barriers before entering the outer region.

Countless True Immortals were still flooding into the area. Cultivators were everywhere, leaving no trace of unoccupied land.

Instead of descending immediately, he sat at the edge of the canopy and made heavenly tribulation clouds.

This batch was made rather casually. The clouds weren't that large, and they were only moderately thick. Once the chain reaction began, he scattered them toward different directions.

Before long, more than ten gray-black tribulation clouds drifted through the nearby skies. The cultivators below hastily retreated as lightning crackled densely within a radius of several dozen miles.

If there was no space, then he would simply scare the people away to create some. Wang Sheng had always favored unconventional methods.

Hiding in the last tribulation cloud, he unleashed his Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent and used Lightning Flash. A bolt of lightning struck from the cloud, carrying him straight down.

He plunged into a valley that had already been reduced to ruins, found a corner, and quickly changed into a Daoist robe. Afterward, he placed an immortal treasure bamboo hat over his head to conceal his face and draped a gray cloak over himself. He then waited quietly for a while.

The countless battles earlier had completely devastated the valley, leaving behind fragments of array restrictions and broken bones scattered everywhere. As Wang Sheng's immortal perception swept the area, he sensed countless traces of shattered Dao Rhythms.

When the tribulation clouds dispersed and cultivators moved about again, Wang Sheng seized the moment to slip out of the valley. He skimmed low over the ground, blending seamlessly among the others nearby.

Everything had gone smoothly so far.

From time to time, he glanced at the bronze mirror to track Li Tianyao's group, which had reached the perimeter of a restricted zone. Finding a secluded corner, they attempted to break through and harvest two spiritual herbs that were each a hundred thousand years old.

Judging from their route, Wang Sheng deduced that the six had a clear objective and had come solely for these two herbs. If they succeeded, they would likely leave immediately. He had a tight window.

Soon, a chaotic battle involving more than ten Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals blocked Wang Sheng's path. He detoured to the side, choosing not to intervene.

The jade pendant that Zhuge Lin had given him still hung around his neck. Even if he rushed straight under the black clouds, he wouldn't trigger any illusion arrays. Still, to avoid drawing attention, he would rather waste time than seem even slightly unusual.

After several detours, Wang Sheng stopped. He sensed two familiar auras.

Ahead lay a restriction that had just been broken open. It was quite remote, yet more than a hundred auras surged within as cultivators clashed violently over the several spiritual herbs at the center.

Wang Sheng did not stop because of the dozen or so hundred-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, but because over ten Heavenly Immortals from the Qiling Immortal Sect were in the restriction as well. Among them were Cha Yue and LIn Feiyao.

The Qiling Immortal Sect had been among the first to organize an expedition into this place, taking advantage of their favorable position. From the very beginning, their targets had been the medicinal herbs hidden within the various restrictions; they had not been wandering aimlessly.

Zhuge Lin had given them instructions and secret techniques that could help them avoid the black clouds. They also deliberately steered clear of crowded areas, focusing on cracking isolated restrictions. Even though their elites had suffered a few serious injuries, they had already secured eight precious medicinal herbs that were each over a hundred thousand years old.

They acted with so much caution that each time they obtained a spiritual herb, several Heavenly Immortals would bring it out of the array and hand it over to their Golden Immortal Realm elders. They would then deploy new personnel.

Even so, every breach of a restriction inevitably attracted envious cultivators. This time was no exception. The dozen or so Heavenly Immortals of the Qiling Immortal Sect had just barely stabilized the situation, yet they were already under heavy fire from numerous Heavenly and True Immortals. More than half of them were already wounded, too.

Reaching a decision, Wang Sheng murmured, "I can't just stand by and watch."

With a light push of his feet, he abruptly changed direction and transformed into a streak of light. He skimmed close to the ground as he shot toward his allies' position, arriving in the nick of time.

Those who walked by the river often could not avoid getting their shoes wet. Since the Qiling Immortal Sect had been reaping great rewards, it was only natural for several celestial sects of similar scale to start watching them closely.

Just as more than ten of their Heavenly Immortals broke through another restriction, several groups of Heavenly Immortals rushed over. The skirmish quickly escalated from a hundred combatants into several hundred.

The battle around the two spiritual herbs raged endlessly. A treasure pagoda suppressed the surrounding space, preventing anyone from harvesting the medicinal herbs directly. Before long, every Heavenly Immortal from the Qiling Immortal Sect was wounded.

Cultivating and reaching such a realm was difficult. Although their sect was fairly large, so many of its Heavenly Immortals dying here would still be quite a heavy loss.

By the time Wang Sheng arrived, the two Heavenly Immortal Realm elders in charge had already used voice transmission to instruct everyone to prepare for a breakout and abandon the two spiritual herbs.

However, many cultivators had already been driven into a frenzy. Some with malicious intent even shouted, "The Qiling Immortal Sect has already taken more than a dozen hundred-thousand-year medicinal treasures. Do not let them escape!"

Half the attackers focused on the dozen or so people, plunging the Qiling Immortal Sect's Heavenly Immortals into a desperate battle.

With Spiritless in hand, he resolutely charged straight into the chaos. Meanwhile, two lotus flames bloomed under his feet, and Spiritless shone white.

Swiftly and gracefully, he unleashed his Pure Yang Sword Song, sending streaks of white flame tearing through the surroundings.

Perhaps because he had grown accustomed to battling peak Heavenly Immortal Realm experts, he went all out as soon as he merged with Yaoyun. His offense was clean and decisive, showing not even the slightest hesitation. He cut through early-stage Heavenly Immortals and mid-stage to late-stage True Immortals as easily as slicing vegetables.

Sword light flashed, and flames roared. Cultivators fell one after another, their heads separated from their shoulders. His Pure Yang True Fire then carved open a bloody path that sent figures scrambling in panic to either side of it.

Even Wang Sheng had not expected to break through and reach the Qiling Immortal Sect's group so effortlessly. After all, he had been prepared for a hard fight.

The lotus flames beneath his feet grew even more intense as he accelerated toward the core of the battlefield.

The dozen Heavenly Immortals of the Qiling Immortal Sect assumed a powerful enemy had arrived. Two had even already gathered their immortal power, ready to hurl their artifacts at the cloaked man with a bamboo hat.

A hundred meters away, Wang Sheng abruptly halted and hoarsely instructed, "Follow me."

He then turned and fought his way back the way he came.

Though briefly stunned, his allies did not hesitate. The two elders in charge signaled their group to maintain their battle formation. They supported one another with immortal power as they rushed after Wang Sheng.

Not only was Wang Sheng clearing the way ahead, but the Pure Yang Flame Lotuses drifting around him also surrounded the Qiling Immortal Sect members, forcing back anyone who tried to harass or pursue them.

They burst through the array in one charge. Wang Sheng went a step further and circled around their flank, planting himself behind them with sword in hand.

One of the Qiling Immortal Sect elders called out, "Many thanks for your help, Senior. Our palace is just beyond!"

Hoarsely, Wang Sheng replied, "Go on ahead. We will meet later."

He then turned back and faced their pursuers.

Swiftly reaching a decision, the dozen behind him hurried toward a sparsely populated area.

Wang Sheng had no intention of getting bogged down in another fierce fight. The moment he prepared to advance, the streaks of light chasing from behind pulled back on their own, showing a keen sense of survival.

In this brief exchange, he had killed over twenty souls. Nevertheless, he emerged without a drop of blood on his robes.

Within the restriction, chaotic battles erupted once again. Several factions clashed over the spiritual herbs as though they were elixirs of immortality.

Once the Qiling Immortal Sect's Heavenly Immortals had withdrawn, two black clouds drifted in lazily from afar. Similar scenes unfolded all over the great array that Qinghua had left behind.

The closer one got to the outer layers, the greater the number of True Immortals. Perhaps the Eastern Sky Region did not possess an overwhelming number of Heavenly Immortals, but it had innumerable True Immortals.

Wang Sheng shook his head and drifted away. Soon, he found the Qiling Immortal Sect group hiding in a scorched thicket, having set up a simple protective array.

He had intended to leave quietly once the matter was settled, concealing both his deeds and his name. However, he recalled how he had benefited from the jade pendant that Zhuge Lin had given him. Unlike him, Zhuge Lin's own disciples and grand disciples had to risk their lives to get the medicinal herbs in the outer region.

The thought made him feel uneasy.

He slung Spiritless across his back and stepped up to the protective array. The dozen cultivators who had been meditating to recover immediately rose, deactivated the array, and bowed to him in unison.

"Thank you for your aid, Senior!"

Wang Sheng nodded lightly.

"Don't mention it. I owe your sect a great debt," he hoarsely replied, then pointed at Lin Feiyao, who was beside Cha Yue. "You. Come here."

Lin Feiyao blinked in surprise. At that moment, Cha Yue gave her a gentle push. She hesitated for a moment but stepped forward anyway.

From beneath the hat, Wang Sheng chuckled softly. His bamboo hat was a treasure used for concealment and defense, not merely an accessory for dramatic flair.

Raising his left hand, he took out a jade thumb ring and tossed it to Lin Feiyao. "Give this to Elder Zhuge Lin. Don't prolong your stay anymore; leave as soon as you can. This place is no sanctuary."

White light flashed under his feet as he leaped into the air. As a sonic boom rang out, he vanished.

Lin Feiyao lowered her gaze to examine the jade thumb ring. Her small lips parted slightly, and her eyes blanked out.

Inside floated more than twenty medicinal herbs, each one radiating intense spiritual light.

For a fleeting moment, the thought of betraying her sect crossed her mind.