Ambush

He didn't dare waste time and flew at full speed the whole way. Xuanqing reached the edge of the Yao Clan's territory and decided to take a detour.

He didn't want to pick a fight with the Yao Clan at a time like this.

But what he feared came to pass.

Just as he flew over a Wild Mountain, the clouds ahead suddenly exploded.

"Stop!"

A furious shout rang out.

Dozens of Demon Soldiers in armor burst from the clouds and surrounded Xuanqing.

Xuanqing stopped and glanced around.

Every one of the Demon Soldiers was a Mystic Immortal, and they carried regulation spears.

Their leader, a Demon General, had already reached the Xuan Immortal Peak.

"Fellow Daoists of the Yao Clan, I'm just passing through." Xuanqing cupped his hands politely.

The Demon General sneered. "Passing through? I say you're a Witch Clan spy!"

Xuanqing was at a loss for words. He was surrounded by an airy immortal aura—how did he look like one of those musclebound members of the Witch Clan?

"I am Xuanqing, a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun of Kunlun Mountain."

Xuanqing wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble, so he simply gave his name, hoping the other side would know when to back off.

But when the Demon General heard the name "Xuanqing," his eyes lit up.

"You're the one we've been looking for! Seize him!"

Without a word, the dozens of Demon Soldiers leveled their spears and thrust at him.

Xuanqing's heart sank. Something was wrong.

They'd clearly come prepared. Even the name of his master didn't matter to them.

"Looks like someone's eager to invite me in for tea."

Xuanqing gave a cold snort and didn't hesitate any longer.

With a thought, the Mysterious Yellow Merit Robe on his body burst into a dazzling golden light.

The spears struck the golden radiance with a series of clangs, unable to break through his defenses.

"Heaven-Covering Seal, go!"

Xuanqing summoned a square seal.

The Heaven-Covering Seal swelled in the wind until it was as large as a small mountain, then slammed down at the Demon Soldiers.

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently. Several Demon Soldiers who failed to dodge in time were crushed to pulp.

Xuanqing summoned the Calm Mind Jade Pendant as well, sending out waves of cool light.

The Demon Soldiers charging at him slowed instantly, their eyes growing dazed.

"You think a few nobodies like you can stop me?"

Though Xuanqing grumbled, he remained on high alert.

He was certain a stronger opponent was lying in wait nearby.

The Mystic Immortal Demon Soldiers were just cannon fodder, meant to drain his magical power.

As he fought back, Xuanqing carefully watched his surroundings and thought it over.

Outside Zixiao Palace, Baize had looked at him rather strangely.

"These guys sure move fast."

Xuanqing struck back with his palm and sent the Demon General flying.

He didn't linger to fight. Spotting an opening, he prepared to break through.

Just then, a sinister voice came from the void.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing, why the hurry?"

A man in white slowly emerged, waving a Feather Fan in his hand. It was Baize.

A gentle smile played on Baize's face, but his eyes were icy.

Xuanqing stopped and stared at him coldly.

"Fellow Daoist Baize, is this how the Yao Clan treats its guests?"

Baize shook his head. "You've misunderstood, Daoist. My lord, Dijun, simply wants to invite you over for a visit."

"Your life would greatly benefit the fortune of our Yao Clan."

Xuanqing sneered inwardly. He'd already guessed more or less what was going on.

"And if I refuse?"

Baize sighed. "Then I'm afraid we'll have to inconvenience you."

As soon as he finished speaking, several powerful auras appeared behind him.

They were all Great Yi Mysterious Immortal Demon Generals!

Xuanqing clenched his fists, and his magical power surged wildly through his body.

He knew this fight wouldn't be easy to end.

Meanwhile, in the Yao Clan's great hall, far away,

Dijun sat in the high seat, turning two Fusang Fruits over in his hand.

"How long has Baize been gone?" Dijun asked calmly.

A Yao Clan commander beside him answered respectfully, "Your Majesty, Lord Baize has just reached the border."

Dijun nodded. "Xuanqing is Yuanshi's beloved disciple, and his body is rich with merit."

"If we can capture him, our Yao Clan will surely earn greater recognition from the Heavenly Dao when we establish our clan."

The commander looked concerned. "Your Majesty, what if Yuanshi takes offense..."

Dijun snorted. "Yuanshi may be powerful, but the Heavenly Dao's will has yet to be settled."

"As long as we cover our tracks, Yuanshi won't have an excuse to act."

"Besides, Baize promised me he has a hundred ways to subdue that brat."

Dijun gazed into the void beyond the great hall, his eyes filled with ambition.

On the battlefield, Xuanqing was already surrounded.

But he showed little fear. Instead, there was a hint of excitement in his expression.

"Good. I'll use you lot to hone my Golden Immortal bottleneck."

Xuanqing took a deep breath, and the Myriad Qi Returning to Yuan Purification Technique within him began to circulate at full force.

His eyes turned pale gold, and a sacred aura radiated from his body.

"Baize, you really think you've got me cornered?"

Xuanqing's voice echoed over the Wild Mountain, carrying an inexplicable pressure.

Baize froze for a moment. He could feel Xuanqing's aura growing stronger.

The speed of its rise far exceeded his expectations.

"Finish this quickly! Take him down!" Baize's smile vanished as he shouted.

Several Great Yi Mysterious Immortal Demon Generals attacked at once, their various divine abilities blotting out the sky.

Xuanqing didn't retreat. He charged straight into the barrage of divine abilities.

"Break!"

Xuanqing threw a punch, and his pure merit-infused magical power smashed a Demon General's phantom to pieces.

He was like a golden bolt of lightning, charging through the ranks of the demons.

Every Demon Soldier in his path was shattered by the terrifying force.

Xuanqing realized that the barrier to the Golden Immortal Realm was loosening as he fought.

"Again!"

He laughed and summoned the Heaven-Covering Seal once more, knocking a Great Yi Mysterious Immortal Demon Marshal back several steps.

Baize's face darkened. He hadn't expected the brat to be such a fierce fighter.

"You useless fools!" Baize entered the fray himself.

He waved the Feather Fan in his hand, sending countless Azure Wind Blades howling forth.

The winds were razor-sharp, carving streaks through space itself.

Xuanqing felt immense pressure.

The gap between a Golden Immortal and a Great Yi Mysterious Immortal truly wasn't easy to bridge.

But he didn't panic.

He still had another trump card.

"Baize, if you want to play, then let's play for real!"

Xuanqing reached into his robes and pulled out a bead radiating Five-Colored Radiance.

It was the Five Elements Chaos Pearl, a replica that Yuanshi Tianzun had bestowed on him for protection before he left, after the second lecture.

Though it was only an imitation, its power was enough to threaten even someone in the Golden Immortal Realm.

Baize's eyelids twitched when he saw the bead.

"Bad! Fall back!"

But it was already too late.

Xuanqing detonated the Five Elements power within the bead.

"Boom—"

A massive mushroom cloud rose over the Yao Clan's border.

The rampaging energy swept across hundreds of miles.

The Mystic Immortal Demon Soldiers vanished into ash before they could even scream.

Several Great Yi Mysterious Immortal members of the Yao Clan were also blasted backward, coughing up blood.

Baize relied on a defensive Magic Treasure to avoid injury, but he still looked utterly disheveled.

The dust settled.

Xuanqing stood where he was, his aura somewhat unsteady, but his eyes blazed with startling brightness.

"Crack."

He heard a sharp sound from within his body.

The Golden Immortal bottleneck that had troubled him for so long had actually begun to loosen!

Dark clouds gathered overhead.

The Golden Immortal Tribulation?!

Xuanqing looked up at the thunderclouds, then at Baize in the distance.

A grin spread across his face.

"Baize, I have to thank you."

"Now it's my turn."

Baize stared up at the tribulation clouds, his face dark with anger.

He had never imagined that Xuanqing would break through at a time like this.

Attacking within the range of a Heavenly Tribulation was asking for death.