Qian Jue's face darkened, but when Oscar asked the question, Dai Mubai immediately perked up with excitement. Straightening his posture, he leaned toward Oscar and said,
"Xiao Ao, you don't know this, but just a while ago, we fought a Spirit Ancestor of over level 40. The fight felt amazing! Even though I got taken down in a single move, I still created an opening for Ah Jue. Right, Ah Jue—how did that battle end? Why did you guys stop?"
Although Dai Mubai knew that, as Spirit Grandmasters, the two of them stood almost no chance against a Spirit Ancestor, when he woke up and saw Qian Jue badly injured but not in critical condition, while Fan Hong didn't look any better and was still guarding his son, he figured that maybe Qian Jue had used Fan Huan as leverage to defeat him.
Even if using a hostage wasn't the most honorable method, what sense was there in talking about honor when facing an Evil Spirit Master?
"Let's call it a draw," Qian Jue said calmly. "In the end, because of his son, he held back and admitted defeat. Then that Gu Lan stopped the fight."
He didn't want to say too much, so he gave them only the result.
"That's already amazing!" Dai Mubai exclaimed. "That was a rank-40 Spirit Ancestor! For us, still only at the Spirit Grandmaster stage, to last that long and force that kind of result—that's outstanding! Ow—!"
His enthusiasm made him clap his fists together with a loud *smack*, which immediately pulled at the wounds across his chest, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Alright, stop wasting energy talking. Just rest properly," Qian Jue cut him off, urging him to focus on recovery. With that, the three of them quickly made their way farther away until their figures disappeared.
Meanwhile, Gu Lan finally rushed out from the secret passage. He had spent quite some time searching the underground chamber for Qian Jue and Dai Mubai, only to find they had already left.
But someone as cunning as Flender would never waste such an opportunity. Knowing that the Evil Spirit Master would eventually come out this way, he had already set up an ambush by the side of the study. As soon as Gu Lan emerged, Flender struck like lightning. With his speed, few could even react.
Sure enough, though Gu Lan faintly sensed danger, he hadn't expected to be ambushed by a Spirit Saint. Caught off guard, he was battered by Flender's flurry of strikes and forced into a desperate defense, trying to find an opening to escape.
"Eagle Soars to the Sky!"
After his barrage, seeing Gu Lan start to recover, Flender immediately unleashed his sixth spirit skill. As the sixth spirit ring lit up, the wings behind him gleamed with radiant light. With a sharp eagle's cry, he struck Gu Lan with a sweeping wing, sending him flying. In the next instant, Flender's wings beat fiercely, propelling him upward with explosive acceleration. He closed in on Gu Lan again, unleashing a storm of attacks empowered by the sixth skill's speed boost.
At the same time, as Gu Lan was struck into the air, the sixth, fifth, fourth, and third rings beneath him shone brightly. From the nine Sacred Orbs behind him, four burst forth with radiance and surged to his front.
One orb glowed green, enveloping his body and healing his injuries.
One orb shone blue, forming a platform beneath his feet, halting his fall and giving him leverage.
One orb radiated golden light, condensing into a shield to block Flender's onslaught.
One orb flared gray, transforming into a massive sword that slashed toward Flender at Gu Lan's command.
In just that instant, Gu Lan unleashed four spirit abilities at once, trying to shift the battle.
The greatsword looked solid, but when it clashed with Flender's wings and claws, it made no sound, as if he were striking air. Yet each contact transferred a wisp of gray energy into Flender's body, subtly slowing his movements.
Flender noticed immediately. Against an Evil Spirit Master, he dared not be careless. After another exchange, he spun and used his wings to knock Gu Lan away again, creating distance. Pausing, he quickly assessed his condition while glaring coldly at his opponent.
Gu Lan also steadied himself at a distance, panting heavily. That furious barrage had almost broken through his defenses—he had narrowly escaped disaster.
"You're that boy's teacher, aren't you?" Gu Lan shouted across the air. "Hand him over to me. Let him come with me. Staying with you will only waste his talent."
"Bullshit!" Flender barked back without hesitation. "I've trained countless outstanding students. Who needs a filthy Evil Spirit Master to point fingers? Go with you? To end up like vermin hunted by the world? To massacre innocent civilians like you monsters? Don't even dream of it!"
But instead of anger, Gu Lan chuckled darkly. "Then you're mistaken. He has already agreed to join our organization. From this moment, he's one of us—an Evil Spirit Master. So what will you do? Kill him?"
He mocked Flender, deliberately sowing doubt about Qian Jue.
"Crap! Anyone with half a brain can see he was just stalling you. If you can't even tell the difference, I really don't know how you ever reached the Spirit Saint realm."
"Haha! Fine, if you won't hand him over, I can't force you. Consider this—let that boy stay with you for now. Raise him well for our organization. Who knows, someday we'll come back and take him away."
Before Flender could respond, the Sacred Orb beneath Gu Lan glowed blue again. His body blurred into a streak of light as he sped toward the outskirts of the city.
He dared not linger in Soto City. As a major city, its Spirit Hall branch must surely be guarded by a powerful bishop. If reinforcements arrived, things would turn disastrous. And if other experts—especially those who bore grudges against Evil Spirit Masters—were drawn by the commotion, escape would be impossible.
Better to leave now while there was still time.
"Hmph! Run? You think you can get away?"
As a flying-type Spirit Master, speed was Flender's greatest weapon. He might not have the strongest attack power, but in terms of sheer swiftness, none at his level could rival him.
With a single powerful beat of his wings, Flender shot after Gu Lan. The distance between them visibly shrank.
Gu Lan, of course, knew he couldn't outrun Flender. The moment he realized his opponent was a flying Spirit Saint, he knew this would be troublesome. That was why, after stalling Flender's assault and throwing out a few harsh words, he had immediately fled toward the outskirts. Outside the city, he might be able to use the Sacred City's secret techniques to escape.
Thus, the two battled as they moved, exchanging blows along the way. Flender could block him and slow his pace, but couldn't fully stop him from shifting the battlefield.
Before long, their clash spilled beyond the walls of Soto City.
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