“Venerable Ming… that ‘Venerable Ming’ from the Helian Merchant Alliance!” Six-Wings was startled, exclaiming involuntarily.
Given the reputation of the Helian Merchant Alliance, it was impossible for him not to have heard of it.
“Haha, I didn’t expect my humble name to have reached Fellow Daoist’s ears. Fellow Daoist Six-Wings, there’s no need for concern. The reason our alliance has mobilized so many people to invite you is solely for the sake of that blood-sacrificing fiend who has wreaked havoc across other continents. We bear no ill will toward you whatsoever,” Venerable Ming said with a smile.
“That fiend has arrived in the Wind Yuan Continent?” Six-Wings’ expression changed drastically upon hearing this.
“Well… our alliance has yet to confirm it, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before he appears in Wind Yuan. Fellow Daoist must think the same, or you wouldn’t have reacted so strongly,” Venerable Ming replied calmly.
“Humph, since Fellow Daoist Ming has personally come, it seems I have no choice but to agree. Very well, I’ll accompany you. However, I’m currently at a critical stage of restoring my true essence…” Six-Wings’ expression flickered uncertainly as he swept his gaze over the five Great Ascension cultivators before him. Ultimately, he decided to yield for the moment but seized the opportunity to state his conditions.
“Haha, that’s easily resolved. Our alliance may lack many things, but we have no shortage of medicinal pills. As long as Fellow Daoist Six-Wings returns with us, the alliance will take full responsibility for your recovery. And this fairy—Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix, isn’t it?” Venerable Ming laughed heartily, readily agreeing before suddenly turning to address Ice Phoenix beside him.
“I dare not claim such familiarity. This junior is indeed Ice Phoenix. How did Senior recognize me?” Ice Phoenix was taken aback and hurriedly bowed respectfully to the red-haired elder.
“There’s no need for such courtesy, Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix. Not long ago, I met Fellow Daoist Han of the human race, and he personally mentioned you to me, asking me to look after you if we ever crossed paths,” Venerable Ming replied with unusual warmth.
“Brother Han… I understand. This junior will also accompany Senior to your alliance as a guest,” Ice Phoenix said with a trace of joy flashing across her face. After a brief consideration, she spoke respectfully.
Beside her, Six-Wings’ expression darkened slightly upon hearing Han Li’s name.
“Then I thank both Fellow Daoists. There are some matters I’d like to discuss with you in detail on the way.”
Venerable Ming smiled faintly at this, forming a hand seal. A violent spatial fluctuation erupted in the sky above as a massive bronze airship, over a hundred zhang long, tore through the void and descended slowly.
By this point, Six-Wings and Ice Phoenix had no intention of backing out. Together with the others, they boarded the colossal vessel.
With a thunderous roar, the airship transformed into a streak of azure light and vanished into the distance.
A month later, in a secluded chamber within the Green Origin Palace, Han Li, who was refining Divine Annihilation Lightning, suddenly paused his hand seals. A flash of azure light later, a green talisman flew out from his sleeve, circling once in the air before transforming into lines of azure text hovering before him.
After just a glance, Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Ice Phoenix and Six-Wings have already been found? The Helian Merchant Alliance moves swiftly indeed. It seems they’re quite confident about this alliance. Though I’m currently occupied, there are matters I must personally inquire about.”
Han Li sighed softly, murmuring to himself before recalling something. He formed another hand seal, his lips moving silently.
At the same time, in another side chamber of the Green Origin Palace, the Flowerstone Ancestor, who had been meditating, suddenly heard Han Li’s voice in his ears.
Startled, he listened intently for a moment before immediately leaving the chamber.
Half a day later, the Flowerstone Ancestor hurriedly departed from Yuanhe Island.
Three months later.
In the forbidden grounds of the Armored Swine Clan, one of the top ten great clans of the Wind Yuan Continent, over a hundred guards—each with a pig-like head, stout bodies, and massive frames—stood silently beside a grand hall.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound echoed from within the hall, accompanied by faint spatial fluctuations.
The leading guards, sensing this, exchanged glances before wordlessly striding inside.
After navigating a winding corridor, they arrived before a vast hall enveloped in a white misty barrier.
Within the barrier, a massive formation spanning several acres glowed faintly, clearly activated.
“What’s going on? Who would be transmitting from another continent at this hour? Commander Fei, did you receive any prior orders?” a slightly shorter Armored Swine guard asked coldly, turning to a sword-bearing guard beside him.
“No, the Transmission Hall received no such orders. Could it be a high-ranking member of our clan from the other side, arriving urgently without prior notice?” the sword-bearing guard replied hesitantly.
“That’s possible. Regardless, we’ll soon find out who’s arriving in Wind Yuan at this time,” the shorter guard said, frowning but cautiously signaling the others to stay alert.
The guards immediately dispersed, blocking the exit.
Almost as soon as they took their positions, the formation emitted a resonant hum. A swirl of light erupted at its center, revealing two indistinct figures—one tall, one short.
The guards’ eyes swept over them, and the shorter guard’s expression darkened.
“Wait—you’re not of our clan! How did outsiders gain access to the cross-continental transmission formation?”
“Kill everyone on the other side, and the formation is yours to use,” a calm voice replied from within the formation. As the light dissipated, the figures became clear.
The shorter figure wore black robes, his face pale. The taller bore the head of a stag, his gaze fierce as he glared at the guards beyond the barrier.
It was none other than the True Immortal Ma Liang and the True Spirit Yang Lu.
“Enemies! Sound the alarm!”
The sword-bearing guard shouted in alarm, immediately drawing his massive blade. The others reacted swiftly—one flung out a red talisman from his sleeve, which shot through the hall’s roof like an intangible specter.
Outside, a crimson fireball erupted in the sky with a deafening explosion.
The remaining guards outside stirred—some charging into the hall, others retreating while hurling formation tools into the air.
In an instant, strands of five-colored light coalesced into thirty-six massive copper pillars, each over a hundred zhang tall, inscribed with silver runes. They descended like meteors, encircling the hall in a fiery barrier.
The retreating guards watched the hall’s entrance warily.
Then—a cataclysmic explosion!
The entire hall erupted like a volcano, debris flying in all directions. Yet as the fragments neared the copper pillars, a fiery screen materialized, reducing everything to ash.
The guards who had rushed inside had vanished without a trace.
The remaining guards outside paled with shock and fury.
From the ruins, Ma Liang and Yang Lu emerged leisurely. Yang Lu clutched a round object, gnawing on it with relish.
“Commander Fei!”
A sharp-eyed guard recognized the object in Yang Lu’s grasp and roared in outrage.
“Activate the formation’s attack!”
Realizing their comrades had likely perished, the guards unleashed the formation’s power.
The copper pillars blazed with crimson light, each firing a beam at Yang Lu.
“You think this pitiful formation can stop me?” Yang Lu laughed maniacally. Inhaling deeply, his body swelled grotesquely as yellow armor materialized over his form.
The red beams struck—only to fizzle harmlessly against his armor.
“Since you’ve offered gifts, allow me to return the favor.”
Yang Lu grinned savagely, summoning a black battle-axe. Swinging it in a wide arc, a ring of black blades erupted outward.
The copper pillars split cleanly in two, the fiery barrier collapsing instantly.
Just as Yang Lu prepared to slaughter the remaining guards, Ma Liang spoke impatiently:
“Enough. These lowly creatures aren’t worth your time. We have more pressing matters.”
“Yes, Master.”
Yang Lu dismissed the axe, shrinking back to normal size. Without another glance at the guards, the two soared away on streaks of light.
Within half an hour, they’d traversed a hundred thousand li. As they crossed a vast grassland, a mountain range loomed ahead. Suddenly, Ma Liang halted mid-flight.
“Master, what’s wrong?” Yang Lu asked, puzzled.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage