"When did the Soul Hall become so large-scaled, bullying a newly established sect?"
Zhu Li's seemingly calm question carried a condescending and unquestionable air, and contained the terrifying pressure of High-Tier Half Sage, like a tsunami suddenly forming, crashing down on the airspace where the Soul Hall members were located!
The Third Heavenly Venerate's faces instantly turned incredibly ugly, as if they had swallowed a fly.
He clearly sensed a deadly threat! The hidden power emanating from this suddenly appearing golden-robed elder far surpassed his own! It was an absolute difference that could easily determine his life or death!
Despite being filled with humiliation and horror, he could only suppress it forcibly, daring not to show it in the slightest. He responded in a deep voice, trying to invoke the name of the Soul Hall: "Who are you? This is a private feud between my Soul Hall and the Five Elements Sect. Please do not interfere!"
"Personal grudges?" Zhu Li's lips curled into a faint sneer, his gaze as if he were watching a child misbehaving. "I don't care what personal grudges you have."
His tone remained calm, but his following words carried an undeniable decisiveness, as if stating an established fact of the world:
"But I will protect the Five Elements Sect today."
"Now," Zhu Li's gaze suddenly turned cold, like Arctic ice, "Take your people and leave immediately."
"Otherwise..."
A cold, golden light suddenly flashed in Zhu Li's eyes!
A terrifying aura, ten or even a hundred times more terrifying than that of the Third Heavenly Venerate, mixed with the immense power of High-Tier Half Sage that could manipulate the Heaven and Earth Rules, and the domineering dragon might of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan Dragon Might from the depths of its bloodline, erupted like a primordial Ancestral Dragon that had been dormant for countless ages, unleashing a world-shaking roar!
"... Don't blame me for letting you all stay!"
"Boom--!"
Zhu Li's terrifying pressure materialized like a golden mountain, or an invisible domain, instantly enveloping the entire Soul Hall camp!
This made everyone in the Soul Hall, from the Third Heavenly Venerate to the ordinary Dou Zong Protector, feel as if they were being crushed by a colossal mountain!
At this point, they even found it difficult to breathe, and the circulation of their internal Dou Qi became more sluggish and difficult than ever before. Even their souls were trembling and groaning! Some of the weaker Venerable Elder were even deathly pale and almost fell from the sky!
"The Ancient Void Dragon!"
The Third Heavenly Venerate nearly ground their teeth to dust, their faces alternating between pale and flushed, their hearts filled with overwhelming humiliation and resentment.
Although he had vaguely heard rumors before that Lin Ming of the Five Elements Sect seemed to be backed by the Ancient Void Dragon Clan of the Void, he always scoffed at such baseless rumors.
He confidently believed that even if Ancient Void Dragon were to intervene, with his current cultivation level of Half Sage, how could he not handle it? He even secretly thought that if the opportunity arose, he could capture one as a mount, how glorious that would be!
However, something happened that this Third Heavenly Venerate of Soul Hall never expected. Not only was the rumor true, but the one who arrived was a powerful Ancient Void Dragon with the strength of High-Tier Half Sage! This was completely beyond his ability to handle!
Faced with such an absolute disparity in strength, all his pride and scheming seemed utterly laughable.
At this moment, he knew full well that what was happening today was beyond saving!
With this High-Tier Half Sage of the Ancient Void Dragon intervening, let alone destroying the Five Elements Sect, if the other party really unleashed its power, all the Soul Hall elites he brought, including himself, would probably be left here forever!
At this moment, the Third Heavenly Venerate of Soul Hall stared intently at Zhu Li, their eyes filled with resentment and a hint of barely perceptible fear. They then glanced at the Five Elements Sect members below, who, though wounded and disheveled, had their eyes rekindled with hope and determination because of the arrival of reinforcements.
In the end, all the struggle and resentment turned into a low growl, almost squeezed out from the depths of his soul, filled with endless frustration. From between his clenched teeth, he forced out a single word:
"... withdraw!"
As soon as the words fell, the Soul Hall members, who had been nearly crushed by the Terrifying Dragon Might, felt as if they had been granted a pardon!
At this moment, they no longer cared about their mission or their reputation. Filled with deep resentment and bitterness, they retreated rapidly like the receding tide of black seawater, hastily merging into the remaining dark clouds. In just a moment, they disappeared without a trace.
The sky regained its clarity, leaving behind only a scene of devastation, ruins, and countless Five Elements Sect members who had survived the catastrophe and felt as if they had lived through another world.
The appearance of Zhu Li and Hei Qing, with their overwhelming strength, forcibly reversed the originally inevitable defeat, pulling the Five Elements Sect back from the brink of destruction!
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smoke of gunpowder, as well as an eerie silence. At this moment, Zhu Li and Hei Qing hovered in mid-air. The arrival of these two powerful members of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, who had repelled the formidable enemy with their absolute strength, undoubtedly saved the Five Elements Sect from annihilation.
All the surviving disciples, their eyes filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and the awe of the strong, focused their gaze upon him.
However, before Zhu Li, being an elder and more composed, could inquire about the specific situation and the whereabouts of Lin Ming and Zi Yan, Hei Qing, with his more impatient and hot-tempered nature, could no longer contain himself.
His enormous, bell-like eyes swept down, but he didn't spot Lin Ming. The anger and worry that had been building up in his heart for months instantly erupted.
He then took a sudden step forward, and the fierce aura of Eight-Star Dou Venerate swept out like a storm, his voice booming like thunder, resounding across the Five Elements Sect, which had just experienced a great battle and was still recovering.
"Where's that kid Lin Ming?! Tell him to get the hell out here right now!"
Hei Qing's roar was filled with undisguised anger and accusation. He pointed his large, fan-like finger downwards and continued to howl:
"What did he say back then? He kept promising that he would bring Zi Yan back within two or three months! And now? How long has it been?! We haven't even seen a trace of him! And he even dares to block the Dragon Seal's detection, what is he trying to do?! Did he do something wrong and is afraid to face us?!"
This sudden, stern questioning made the Five Elements Sect members, who had just relaxed, tense up again.
Despite the churning Qi and Blood and injuries within him, Elder Yao quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhu Li and Hei Qing, and forced a gentle yet weary smile.
He knew that these two were benefactors of the sect and had close ties with the Sect Master and Zi Yan. Even if their tone was unfriendly, he absolutely could not offend them at this moment.
"Brother Zhu Li, Brother Hei Qing, please calm down." Elder Yao's voice was hoarse from his injuries, but he still maintained his courtesy. "Our Five Elements Sect is also extremely anxious and completely baffled by this matter."
Elder Yao immediately sighed, his face showing a mixture of helplessness and worry. "The Sect Master... several months ago, in order to handle some affairs of the Flower Sect's Sect Master Yun Yun, he left the sect alone for the Flower Sect."
"Since he left, he has not returned and there has been no news of him. Our sect also has no idea where he is now."
Elder Yao paused, glanced at the equally wounded Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin and the others beside him, and continued to explain, "Some time ago, we sensed that the Soul Hall was making unusual movements and had a bad feeling, so we sent people to the Flower Sect many times to look for him, hoping to invite him back to the Sect Master overall situation."
"However, the people from the Flower Sect clearly told us that while the Sect Master did help Sect Master Yun Yun resolve her troubles, he only stayed at the Flower Sect for three days before leaving with Zi Yan. As for where they went, the people from the Flower Sect said they didn't know."
Then, Elder Yao's tone was filled with genuine anxiety. "So, Brother Hei Qing, to be honest, in the matter of finding the Sect Master and Miss Zi Yan, our Five Elements Sect is even more anxious than you are! The sect has suffered such a calamity, and the Sect Master's whereabouts are unknown. We... we really..."
Elder Yao's words were unfinished, but the heavy sense of powerlessness he felt was already evident.
At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian, pale-faced and with bloodstains on her dress, also stepped forward with great effort. Although her breathing was unsteady, her eyes were exceptionally clear and firm as she looked at Zhu Li and Hei Qing, and said softly, "Elder Zhu Li, Big Brother Hei Qing."
Her voice, though soft, carried an undeniable power. "While I don't know why Lin Ming and Zi Yan suddenly lost contact, or even concealed the Dragon Seal, there's one thing I can guarantee with my life—"
"Lin Ming would absolutely, positively not do anything to harm Zi Yan!"
After speaking, a trace of reminiscence and warmth flashed in Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes. "The two of them met when they were both nobody, supported each other, and went through far more storms and hardships than any of us can imagine."
"The bond between them has long surpassed that of ordinary friends; it's more like that of blood relatives. I know Lin Ming's character well; even if he himself faces immense trouble and danger, he would never allow Zi Yan to suffer the slightest harm! Please believe this."
Xiao Yi Xian's words were earnest and firm, carrying a comforting power. She was the first to know Lin Ming and Zi Yan, and they came out of the Jia Ma Empire together. Her testimony undoubtedly carried great weight.
Hearing Elder Yao's heartfelt explanation and Xiao Yi Xian's resounding guarantee, Hei Qing, who was originally furious, opened his mouth but didn't know how to continue his outburst. He could only turn his gaze to Zhu Li, who had been silent all along.
A faint light flickered in Zhu Li's deep, well-like eyes.
Having lived for countless years, his insight into people was naturally sharp. He could sense the helplessness and truth in Elder Yao's words, as well as the genuine trust in Xiao Yi Xian. Considering Lin Ming's previous actions on East Dragon Island and Zi Yan's dependence on him, he had already come to believe that Lin Ming would not harm Zi Yan.
However, this inexplicable disappearance and the concealment of the Dragon Seal still felt like a thorn in his heart, preventing him from feeling completely at ease.
After a long while, Zhu Li finally let out a slow sigh, a sigh that contained too many complex emotions—worry for the younger generation, helplessness about the current situation, and a trace of weariness that was not easily detected.
That's enough.
He waved his hand, his voice returning to its previous calmness, but lacking some of its former sharpness.
"Given the situation, there's no use in being hasty. The most urgent task is for you to clean up this shattered sect, treat the wounded, and reassure the disciples. As for Lin Ming and Zi Yan's whereabouts... let's discuss that later."
Seeing that Zhu Li's tone had softened, Elder Yao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pressed his advantage, saying, "Brother Zhu Li, Brother Hei Qing, the Five Elements Sect will never forget this great kindness. This is not the place to talk. Although the sect is in ruins, there are still a few intact halls. Please, you two, move inside the sect to rest for a while, so that we can do our part as hosts."
Zhu Li's gaze swept over the chaotic Five Elements Sect below, which was struggling to save itself. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "Very well."
He definitely needs to know more about the situation and also needs a place to stay temporarily while waiting for a possible turning point.
Thus, guided by Elder Yao, Xiao Yi Xian, and others, Zhu Li and Hei Qing transformed into streams of light and descended upon one of the few main halls within the Five Elements Sect that had been fortunately preserved.
In the days that followed, the Five Elements Sect, this massive war machine, began to operate at full capacity, throwing itself into the arduous work of post-disaster reconstruction and relief.
Zhu Li and Hei Qing, on the other hand, stayed at the Five Elements Sect for the time being.
Time passed quietly amidst this busy work filled with a faint sadness and the hope of rebuilding.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these ten days, the entire Five Elements Sect demonstrated astonishing resilience.
Under the organization of Elder Yao and others, the ruins were initially cleared, the damaged palaces began to be repaired, and the foundation of the Sect Protecting Array was being rapidly reconstructed.
Although the deep traces of that fierce battle are still clearly visible in the distance—the scorched earth, the broken mountains, and the bloodstains that have not yet been completely wiped away...
But the entire sect has been revitalized with a tenacious vitality. The despair and sorrow in the disciples' eyes are gradually being replaced by perseverance and hope, and order is slowly being restored.