After hearing the report, Yunxi let out a cold snort. The evil cultivators had clearly timed their arrival perfectly. She transmitted a message in a cold voice: "Xiao He, pick your moment and ambush them. Delay them for as long as you can. Scatter all the talismans this Lord gave you. Try not to throw your life away. Xiao Lei is still waiting for you."
Masquerading among the disguised evil cultivators rushing toward Yunxiao Sea, Xiao He kept his expression steady and replied, "Rest assured, Zūnzhě. I know what to do. My father's blood debt has never been repaid."
He lowered his gaze, hiding the chill in his eyes. He had waited a long time for this day.
Not long after, the evil cultivator squad moving at high speed was hit by a sudden ambush. Explosions boomed one after another, and screams cut through the smoke. Someone shouted, "Evil cultivators! They are heading for Yunxiao Sea! Stop them!"
When the smoke dispersed, those who had been watching from the sidelines saw the disguises fail. The aura leaking from the evil cultivators could not be faked. Righteous cultivators surged forward, surrounding the scattered enemies who were trying to flee.
Xiao He's gambit had tripped the column, dragging them into a brutal fight. Reinforcements for the righteous side poured in, making escape impossible for the evil cultivators.
But Xiao He's situation was dire. A Divine Transformation evil cultivator counterattacked and severed one of his arms. He had avoided a fatal spot, yet the difference in cultivation realm meant he was still badly injured.
The Divine Transformation evil cultivator fixed a feral glare on Xiao He. "So it was you! How dare you betray the evil god!"
He flashed forward, appearing before Xiao He. A palm clamped down over Xiao He's head to perform a soul search.
Xiao He barely managed to swallow a healing pill he had kept under his tongue. He could not evade that hand. His tone was ice-cold. "Betray what evil god? My father and my little sister died by your hands. How could I ever join you? I swallowed my pride to avenge them. You will not extract a single scrap of information from me."
He prepared to self-detonate his Yuányīng. When Ran Xi Zūnzhě's order came, he knew this battle would not end well. Even if he died, he would complete the task she had given him.
Ran Xi Zūnzhě had told him to preserve his life, but he had already made peace with death. There was a Divine Transformation evil cultivator in the squad, while he was only mid-peak Nascent Soul. He could not shake the opponent in a straight fight, but if he blew up his Nascent Soul, he could at least inflict heavy damage and stall him.
Sensing Xiao He's intent, the evil cultivator sneered, "Hmph. You want to self-detonate? That depends on whether this Lord allows it."
With that, he sealed Xiao He's Yuányīng with evil qi and moved to resume the soul search.
Xiao He clenched his teeth. If so, he would detonate his soul itself. He would never let the enemy search his memories.
In that heartbeat of delay, a snowflake drifted onto the back of the evil cultivator's hand. In the blink of an eye, the entire arm froze like a block of ice. An ice-blue flash sliced past, and the frozen arm shattered into glittering shards.
"Damn it! Who goes there!"
He became a one-armed man and bellowed, yet his body retreated honestly and fast.
As he tried to slip away, a thread of cold snapped around his ankle. His movement and expression froze forever. Another ice-blue gleam flashed. The evil cultivator, now an ice sculpture, shattered into countless pieces. His aura vanished.
Xiao He staggered, clutching his bleeding stump. He looked up at the man who appeared before him, robes pure white without a speck of dust, a jade ornament carved like a Hive hanging at his waist. Silver hair stirred in the wind and snow. That cold, austere face was unforgettable.
Xiao He bowed his head at once. "Xiao He greets Yu Ling Zūnzhě."
This was Ran Xi's master. Xiao He recognized him.
Yu Ling gave a slight nod. "Why did you suddenly ambush a high-level evil cultivator? Did Ran Xi give the order?"
"Yes. Ran Xi Zūnzhě told me to delay the evil cultivators heading to Yunxiao Sea. I knew my strength was limited, so I could only choose a sneak attack. Fortunately, Zūnzhě arrived in time."
"This Lord understands. Your mission is complete. Return to the sect with the Haoran Sect disciples and treat your wounds. Your sister is waiting."
Relief washed through Xiao He. If he could live, he did not want to die. The task was done, and he could withdraw. He bowed quickly. "Yes. Thank you, Zūnzhě, for saving me."
Yu Ling did not linger. He tossed Xiao He an entry token for Haoran Sect and vanished from the chaotic battlefield.
Xiao He turned to see Haoran Sect's Law Enforcement Hall disciples waiting nearby. He obediently followed them. As he turned away, he tossed a Shenggu Dan into his mouth. He refused to let his little sister see him in this sorry state.
After rescuing Xiao He, Yu Ling caught up to Hao Yan ahead and sent a swift voice transmission,"Senior Sister Hao Yan, Ran Xi has trouble. I will go on ahead."
Hao Yan's phoenix eyes narrowed. "You and Ming Hong go first and support her. Shi Jun and I will bring the sect disciples and arrive shortly."
"Understood."
Yu Ling wasted no words. He and Ming Hong tore open space and left the embattled region.
Hao Yan gripped a red long whip that glinted with cold light and said in an icy voice, "You rats from the gutter, since you dare show yourselves, leave your lives here. Form up. Let none of them escape."
At her command, disciples of Mingjian Gate and Haoran Sect formed their arrays, encircling the exposed high-level evil cultivators. A new round of slaughter began. Within the formation, blades and swords flashed endlessly. Outside, righteous cultivators waited to cut down any fish that slipped the net.
When Yu Ling and Ming Hong ripped through the void and appeared above Yunxiao Sea, they found the entire sea tainted with dense evil qi. The once blue waters had turned ink-black. Ran Xi was straining to suppress the sealed place of the evil god's body that was trying to rise from the depths.
The Divine Transformation cultivators who had been watching finally sensed that something was truly wrong. As Ran Xi forced down the slowly rising ground with overwhelming spiritual power, they flashed into position above Yunxiao Sea, hurled their natal artifacts into the depths, and used their power to help suppress it. Ran Xi caught a much-needed breath.
Yu Ling and Ming Hong exchanged a look and appeared at Ran Xi's side, adding their strength to hold down the evil god's sealed ground.
"Ran Xi, why is your soul unstable?"
As Yu Ling thrust his natal sword, Binghan, into the sea, he noticed his disciple's pallor and the telltale tug of a soul on the verge of leaving the body.
Seeing Yu Ling and Ming Hong, Yunxi finally relaxed a fraction and answered through gritted teeth,"Wei Yunqing dragged us into a disaster. She did not even know someone stole her heart's blood. The evil cultivators used her blood as a guide, drawing on the Wei clan's bloodline to pull their souls as sacrifices. They want to break the second seal of the place sealing the evil god's body."
Ming Hong sucked in a sharp breath. "We will hold with your master. Stabilize your soul as fast as you can."