Looking at the suddenly appeared aged figure, Guyou was momentarily stunned, and then spoke in a gloomy voice, “Yaosen!”
“T-teacher? How come you’ve arrived here?” As unexpected as Guyou’s actions were, Xioayan too felt startled at Yaosen’s arrival, his deep voice tinged with a note of bewilderment. He hadn’t even crushed the space scroll given to him by his teacher as yet.
“You stayed inside the Ancient Domain for too long—I felt uneasy, so I decided upon an appropriate time and hurried over. Never did I imagine I’d run straight into things.” Floating midair facing Xioayan, Old Yao let out a faint smile, then swept his gaze across the figure before him. A trace of warmth soon surfaced in his eyes and with a slight nod he said, “To raise your strength in only a few passing months to this level—you’ve exceeded even my expectations, truly.”
Far off, Xuner and others were visibly relieved upon seeing Yaosen appear unexpectedly.
“Guyou,” Yaosen redirected his focus towards the shadow figure, speaking slowly. “As someone with great fame in the Central Area’s ancient sects, isn’t your approach these days a little below you personally too?”
“Hmph.” The ghost figure sneared mockingly, replying grimly, “We Huns value neither pride nor shame—success depends on methods pursued. If you think reasoning with me is going to bring anything useful, it really is amusing indeed.”
“Well now… I seem to have quite forgotten how shamefaced you all could be,” replied Old Yaosen, chuckling in turn and said coolly,” Harassing juniors isn’t something much though. Perhaps we should settle this between us ourselves? Are we clear?”
Contorting his face, Guyou had long realized their equal states—both at the Semisaint level. In perfect form and condition, it would still rest as undecided, the victor depending much. However, his already-weakened condition at that stage meant even victory probability in facing Yaosen would not reach three-tenths.
“Don’t get too proud, Yaosen—our Huns command powers dwarfing that puny Star-Wishing Pavilion of yours. Call upon more elders to back with mine and let’s see how you fare?” Though very much aware the battle favored him little for now, there was no yielding, so Guyou snapped instead.
“Regarding musters, we Ancient Clan need no fear of you at all.” Hardly had Guyou finished than Xuner’s group darted forward until finally they stood behind Yaosen, her jade-like hand flashing. A spatial scroll formed, crushed instantly, releasing a rippling current. Whereupon, rifts split the very air, and an elder’s figure steadily stepped forth—from amidst the widening fracture in space—under everyone’s grim gazes from within.
“Hahaha! Didn’t expect the party so warm today,” followed the calmly chuckled laughter which accompanied this figure’s arrival.” Elder Tong-xuan?” A little surprised himself, Xioayan recognized this aged person immediately—precisely the same revered figure met during that past venture he once endured within the Ancient World.” Indeed a pleasure seeing you again, Xioayan.” Elder Tongxuan smiled briefly before sweeping his gaze across Xioanyan with visible astonishment. Only much later did he refocus his attention onto Yaofu, “Allow guesses—this must be that once famed Medical Venerable from Centrals—the name Yaofu the Saint might fit better today, hmm?”
The cordiality met Yaofu too, who responded politely with clasped-hands gesture in return as warm smiles filled his expression.
“Respected Elder Tongxuan.”
Approaching them stood ancient heir Guqingyang waiting his cue. Once Tongxuan and old Xioanyan conversed enough, did he quietly and briefly summarize what actually transpired thus far.
“Hun faction has grown more audacious, indeed.” Tongxuan mused with knit brows upon listening to Guqing Yang recount before narrowing a little at Guyou with clear displease.
Trapped between such heavy attention from Tongxun and Yaofu, even powerful a semi-Saint like Guyou started to visibly squirm beneath. Although still daring defiance, leaning back upon Hun heritage against the Star-Wishing Pavilion, such recklessness against an Ancient Race like the Gus would now need measured responses. An older and no-less terrifying lineage than themselves, strength here matched, if not superior.
Now regrouping, Hun-yuh’s cadre of Huns flew beside and gathered under Guyou’s silhouette dark-faced already observing the gathering of opponents’ array and force, shifting the scenario balance quickly turning against their advantage.
“Master Guyou, shall we call another elite within?” whispered Hun Yu hesitantly.
“Spotted trace upon the Bodhi Mind so far?”
“No?” Surprised, he hesitated. “Still… none visible?”
The master furrowed brow slightly exhaling with a short sigh.
“Abort. Gus remain active. Once we bring down more from our faction, assured retaliation will arrive in full from their own ancient stock. Thus revealing further might harm interests more. Abandon pursuit now.”
Despite dissatisfaction gnawing, Hun Yu realized reality’s weight; Guyou had barely survived being blasted into serious wounds previously via the fire lotus barrage earlier unleashed by Xioayan. Fighting even merely a single Semist Saint was now arduous, but now there stood actually a duo—two in number. Even though, Heaven’s Demonic Borer race too might harbor Semisaint monsters akin, yet with feathered temperament like theirs however, reluctant to earn the ire of Ancient kind Gus. Thus depending on others like Jiufeng to rally backup remained uncertain at best…
“Do not act too proud yourself just yet, elder Tong-xuan…” Guyu coldly retorted with chilling eyes on the Ancient master, “Once my injuries fully recover, you wish to confront or retaliate as your heart desires—I shall always respond accordingly.”
Tongxun, however, merely wore an uncaring smile hearing this. Understanding clearly that what remained behind was retreat rather than real confidence. But no need over-pressing this stage though—it too wise knowing truly stopping Guyou in this situation near impossible—Semisaint at their last stand could be terrifyingly ferocious. Further still, within that lot were undoubtedly space scrolls capable summoning more race comrades back. Therefore, entanglements prolonged could inevitably drag both ancient groups into direct confrontation.
“Further note this also,” added Guyou sharply glancing toward Xioanyan and Master Yao, darkly. “No other target escapes the Huns forever. The Star-Wishing Pavilion shall indeed be crushed to total ruins under Holy殿 soon. Enjoy these last days you two.”
“We don’t need your concern indeed,” Old Yao smiled. “Star-Pavilion bites tough bone, believe it or not. If indeed they attempt siege… expect tooth breaks from their jaws biting.” Long standing enmity rendered hollow threats like those meaningless long ago—need for respect vanished long before.
“You’d better keep those exact words when our Holy殿 marches forth then, huh?” Sneered Guyu. With not another word spoken further, a dark final gaze settled onto young Xio, turned abruptly fleeing outside towards Mangeling Ancient Domain’s boundary hastily followed by reluctant Huanyu and the rest of his Hun cadre soon after.
Seeing Huanyu and gang escape so utterly defeated, even members belonging among Demonic凰族 wasted no extra moment hesitating; hurriedly they tailed away too from danger’s wake.
Glimpses disappeared from Xioayans eyes instantly as sighs echoed: “Middling indeed… injured Guyou yes, too small however remains the impact against Holy殿, unfortunately.”
“Hahaha,” Master Yao chuckled briefly as he commented lightly, “driving a Semisaint nearly to that state isn’t trivial. Departure theirs inevitable; Hun race strength remains daunting overall—for all sides really risking an all-out clash spells mutual losses, none wish to risk that.”
“Well expressed, Old Yaofu,” chuckled Tongxuan beside approvingly. Gazing toward his disciples briefly, he suggested: “Anyway since events seem settled for now—the ancient菩提-tree issue likewise complete—it truly wise returning our party Ancient Realm soon. Remember—difficult already letting Miss Xuner venture out from family for long. Overstay here could risk elders impatient urging repeatedly back home.”
Hearing which, in that brief exchange across those soft eyes of Xuners, a faint waver passed, understanding clearly the same—until one attained that full-fledged rank of Heaven’s Saint, ancestral overseers would simply refuse permitting external wandering beyond limits—hence she softly turned toward Xioani with a final parting advice: “Dearest, caution must persist—for vengeance Hun-likes never abandon, bitter they are this encounter caused much. As soon moments permit, assured they strike upon the Star-Pavilion directly again.”
“Understood,” Xioanyan agreed. For all growing strength displayed lately within ranks at the pavilion however, gap still remained considerable against a might as that which Hun Holy殿 controlled undeniably. An all-encompassing invasion truly did spell significant danger—no small concern either.
“Thus, after leaving this place—I’d require immediate retreat into reclusion. Fully consume菩提-heart essence. Only raising myself soon to rank of semi divinity might assure safeguard here once conflict resumes… Else pavilion’s peril remains real.”
“Worry not,” Tongxian offered gently encouragingly smiling again. “All ancient clan eyes remain fixed on Hun’s maneuvers. Once stirred, swift intelligence shall reach promptly. Furthermore even breaching Star Pavilion would require mustering no less of two half-saint level powers combined—this a scale Hun forces haven’t mobilized within many long years past.”
“Besides should such time really come—we Gus would stand watching from sidelines? Considering you possess the Gus-Emperor jade—this alone means sufficient reason to protect and prevent the Huns to ever obtain.”
“Well—thanks then Elder Tongxuan. You have my sincerest gratitude for your efforts,” Xioanyan responded warmly.
“Just trivial duties. Now—getting back underway is the task,” said Tongxun waving lightly dismissing gesture. And with it, he nodded at Teacher Yao beside, then before others said word further added action spoke; A grand swirl engulfed his companions with swirls enveloping as he cast his robes, vanishing them quickly from above skies altogether.
Watching until vanished—only silence remained. Another sigh escaped. Looking away east at border toward wildness ancient realm he muttered softly at companion behind,”Alright. It’s returning for us next.”
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