"Big Brother's disciple?"
"That aura couldn't be wrong. It was indeed the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique!"
"I never expected Big Brother's disciple to appear there and even snatch two Gourds right under our disciples' noses."
Inside the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun watched the scene of Gourd Mountain displayed on the mirror before him. The corner of his mouth twitched, and his expression turned somewhat livid and unpleasant.
It was not that he was dissatisfied with Li Yun interfering. Rather, he could tell that Li Yun seemed to have grasped the true nature of this trial. That was why, despite being able to take all three Gourds, he had only taken two.
He had hinted at this matter to Nanjixianweng, and he believed Sect Master Tongtian had also hinted at it to Zhao Gongming.
Because of this, the disciples of the Chan and Jie Sects had been left with no possibility of pursuit. They could only watch helplessly as Li Yun disrupted everything and directly took away two Gourds.
As for those Rogue Cultivators and San Xiao who were pursuing him—
As a Saint, Yuanshi Tianzun had long seen through Li Yun's abilities. Although he was merely in the Mysterious Immortal Realm, he cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, a method of Attaining Dao through Strength. Let alone cultivators of the same realm, even those in the True Immortal Realm might not be his match.
Coupled with that mysterious Transformation Art, unless someone's cultivation exceeded Li Yun's by several major realms, catching him would be nothing more than a fool's dream.
Thinking of this, Yuanshi Tianzun could not help but smile bitterly. "Big Brother, oh Big Brother, how did such a fine seedling end up becoming your disciple?"
"No, I have to go ask. This child is not only exceptionally clever, but his potential is immense. I even vaguely sense that he is fated with me."
As he spoke, Yuanshi Tianzun stopped watching the battle at Gourd Mountain. With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the mirror before him, then flashed toward the Palace of Supreme Purity.
"The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique!"
"What a marvelous Transformation Art!"
"This child belongs neither to the Interception Sect nor the Chan Teachings. Could he be Big Brother's disciple?"
"Who would have thought that the trial Second Brother and I arranged for the disciples of the Two Sects on a whim would be picked clean by Big Brother's disciple?"
Inside Biyou Palace, Sect Master Tongtian also laughed aloud.
Even with his state of mind as a Saint, Li Yun's sudden interference and opportunistic gain had amused him.
However, since Li Yun was a Disciple of Taiqing, he was also a disciple of the Three Pure Ones' Lineage. Naturally, Sect Master Tongtian would not reclaim the Gourds. Otherwise, where would his dignity as a Saint be?
Yet Li Yun's actions had also piqued his interest. Looking outside instinctively, he sensed Yuanshi Tianzun's movements. He immediately rose with a smile. "Very well. It has been a long time since my brother and I met. This is the perfect chance to gather, and congratulate Big Brother on accepting such an outstanding disciple."
With that, Sect Master Tongtian did not linger. He waved away the image in the mirror, left Biyou Palace, and flew straight toward the Palace of Supreme Purity.
"Collect!"
Elsewhere, Li Yun had already flown beyond the range of Gourd Mountain. Without hesitation, he stored the two Gourds in his sea of consciousness.
After doing so, he sensed the Rogue Cultivators pursuing him from behind. A glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his head toward a cloud in the sky.
Without hesitation, he spread his wings and flew directly into it. He then took out a feather, transformed it into an eagle, and sent it flying out of the cloud toward the distance. Meanwhile, he used the Seventy-Two Transformations once more to turn himself into a cloud and hide within the cloudbank, patiently waiting for the cultivators behind him to arrive.
Before long, sharp sounds of air being torn apart rang out.
Numerous groups of Rogue Cultivators arrived, completely failing to notice the changes within the clouds. One after another, they sped after the eagle clone that had flown away.
Heh, their experience is still lacking. No one even noticed me!
Li Yun laughed inwardly at the sight.
He paid no attention to those Rogue Cultivators. Any Rogue Cultivator with real ability would not remain at Kunlun Mountain. This was the domain of Saints, and after the Three Pure Ones established their sects, its resources had long ceased to be something Rogue Cultivators could covet.
The reason this group remained here was that their potential and strength were insufficient. Though they could not join the Human, Chan, and Jie Sects, they could still enjoy safety within Kunlun Mountain's territory. With the Three Pure Ones stationed here, no one dared cause trouble in the region.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
At that moment, more sounds of air being torn apart drew Li Yun's attention.
Peering through a gap in the clouds, he saw the three sisters Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao flying rapidly toward him.
However, the three sisters also failed to notice anything unusual within the cloudbank. Nor did they know Li Yun had already used the Substitution Art. They continued speeding toward the distant region in pursuit.
"Interception Sect's Three Xiao!"
"Other than Yunxiao, the other two are dead weight!"
Watching the three sisters depart, Li Yun could not help grumbling inwardly.
Yunxiao was mature, Qiongxiao aloof, and Bixiao lively and mischievous. Each of the three sisters had her own charms and beauty.
But unfortunately, the three women's futures were exceedingly tragic.
Yunxiao and Qiongxiao were relatively fortunate, as they knew when to advance and when to retreat.
During the Investiture of the Gods tribulation, they deployed the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation and crippled the Twelve Golden Immortals. It could be said that was the Interception Sect's closest moment to victory.
After all, once the Twelve Golden Immortals had been crippled, virtually no one could stand against the three sisters. If nothing unexpected had happened, they could have ended the Canonization of the Gods. So long as enough mortals died, there would be fewer and fewer positions on the Investiture of the Gods. Once the Investiture of the Gods was full, the Investiture of the Gods tribulation would naturally collapse.
Unfortunately, Bixiao was a brainless idiot.
Yuanshi Tianzun had personally stepped in to save his disciples, yet she still dared provoke him and even attack him? Was that not courting death? What did she take a Saint for? Was a mere junior like her qualified to provoke one?
It would have been one thing if she had merely gotten herself killed, but she also dragged Qiongxiao into death and onto the Investiture of the Gods. Yunxiao had been protected by Laozi and suppressed at Qilin Cliff. Although she would later enter the Investiture of the Gods in the flesh as a Saint, preserving a trace of the Interception Sect's Sparks, entering the Investiture of the Gods meant restrictions and control. As a result, Yunxiao ultimately became little more than a background figure.
"Still, San Xiao's foundations are not weak. I wonder what Traits I can obtain by defeating them."
After his sigh, Li Yun suddenly found himself looking forward to it.
However, he did not catch up to them now. Instead, he revealed his true form, flew out from the clouds, turned around, and headed toward the Kunlun Mountain territory where Supreme Purity resided.
He had been away for so many years. It was time to return and make some preparations. After all, only a little over a hundred years remained before the Three Teachings Exchange Conference. Once he sorted out his current situation, it would be about time for it to begin.
With his current cultivation in the Mysterious Immortal Realm, facing San Xiao then would be inevitable. Defeating them and obtaining their Traits would not be difficult.
Elsewhere, San Xiao and the Rogue Cultivators soon caught up with the eagle clone, whose Magical Power had run out, after giving their all.
Just as the cultivators were about to attack, the eagle suddenly exploded. A strand of hair appeared in midair and slowly drifted toward the ground.
For a moment, every cultivator present was dumbfounded.
Someone stepped forward, grabbed the hair, and examined it. His face immediately darkened. "Damn it, we've been played!"
"This was merely a clone. That eagle was transformed by a cultivator, and he had already escaped long ago."
After speaking, the cultivator tossed aside the hair, turned, and left without hesitation.
His departure made the other Rogue Cultivators' expressions turn ugly as well. Having confirmed that they had been tricked, they had no other options. One after another, they turned and left, no longer daring to return to Gourd Mountain.
Only after everyone had left did San Xiao fly forward. Yunxiao caught the strand of hair and said, "There are always greater mountains beyond mountains, and greater people beyond people. Master was indeed right!"
"Though we do not know who it was, anyone who could seize the Gourds in such a manner cannot be much stronger than us. Let's go back and help Big Brother!"
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